Oregon Birds O Vol. 6, No. 4 - 1980

OREGON BIRDS i s p u b l i s h e d q u a r t e r l y f o r and d i s ­t r i b u t e d t o t h e members o f OREGON FIELD ORNITHOLOGISTS (0F0). Correspondence f o r OREGON BIRDS, OREGON FIELD ORNITHOLOGISTS o r t h e OREGON BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE s h o u l d be s e n t t o : P. 0. Box 10373, Eugene, OR 97440.

Membership c l a s s e s and a n n u a l dues f o r OFO a r e : I n d i v i d u a l - $7.00; Family - $11.00; S u s t a i n i n g -$15.00. Membership i n any c l a s s i s accompanied by one volume o f OREGON BIRDS.

OREGON BIRDS i s p r i n t e d a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f Oregon Press. A r t i c l e s a p p e a r i n g i n OREGON BIRDS may be r e p r i n t e d w i t h p e r m i s s i o n o f t h e a u t h o r o r t h e E d i t o r , and must i n d i c a t e t h e s o u r c e , OREGON BIRDS.

E d i t o r : Steve Gordon.

OREGON BIRDS S t a f f : J i m C a r l s o n , Judy C a r l s o n , A l a n C o n t r e r a s , B i l l D o t t e r e r , Susan Gordon and Ben Ross.

Oregon F i e l d O r n i t h o l o g i s t s Board o f D i r e c t o r s :

P r e s i d e n t - M. S. " E l z y " E l t z r o t h , C o r v a l l i s S e c r e t a r y - Jan Krabbe, P h i l o m a t h T r e a s u r e r - Jim C a r l s o n , Eugene

D i r e c t o r s - T e r r y Morgan, P o r t l a n d (1980) A l i c e P a r k e r , Roseburg (1980) Dennis Rogers, P o r t O r f o r d (1980-81) Lyn T o p i t s , Coos Bay (1980-81)

Oregon B i r d Records Committee:

S e c r e t a r y - C l a r i c e Watson, Eugene A l a n C o n t r e r a s , Eugene (1982) Thomas C r a b t r e e , Salem (1982) J e f f G i l l i g a n , P o r t l a n d (1980) Robert Lucas, Salem (19 80) A l a n McGie, N o r t h Bend (1980) L a r r y McQueen, Eugene (19 81) H a r r y N e h l s , P o r t l a n d (1981) E l e a n o r Pugh, Wolf Creek (1981) Steve Summers, Klamath F a l l s (1982)

M a n u s c r i p t s o r a r t i c l e s f o r p u b l i c a t i o n i n OREGON BIRDS s h o u l d be t y p e d , double-spaced w i t h one i n c h m argins. Photographs s h o u l d be e i t h e r b l a c k - a n d - w h i t e p r i n t s o r c o l o r p r i n t s w i t h h i g h c o n t r a s t .

Cover I l l u s t r a t i o n - RUFF by Steve H e i n l

Other I l l u s t r a t i o n s - Joe E v a n i c h , Steve Gordon

Contents Vol. 6, No. 4 - 1980

Oregon's 1980 C h r i s t m a s B i r d Counts J i m C a r l s o n and Steve Gordon 170

Pr e v i e w : Columbia E s t u a r y CBC Dav i d I r o n s 176

Pr e v i e w : Klamath F a l l s CBC Steve Summers 178

B i r d i n g E t h i c s Mark Egger 180

D e t a i l e d F i e l d N otes: R u f f and M o n g o l i a n P l o v e r H a r r y Nehls 184

D e t a i l e d F i e l d Notes: Blue Jay Wayne Hoffman 187

H i g h l i g h t s from t h e F i e l d Notes: Summer 1980 C l a r i c e Watson 189

Species T r a i l R e v i s i t e d Tad F i n n e l l 196

Klamath Basin B a l d E a g l e Workshop: F e b r u a r y 1980 Ralph Opp 201

L i s t i n g , t h e B i r d e r ' s H a b i t T e r r y Morgan 2 02

L e t t e r 204

S h o r t Notes 208

P r e s i d e n t ' s Message M. S. "E l z y " E l t z r o t h 214

E d i t o r ' s Note 215

169

Oregon's 1980 Christmas Bird Counts Jim Carlson and Steve Gordon

W i t h t h e a i d o f C h r i s t m a s B i r d Count c o m p i l e r s t h r o u g h o u t t h e S t a t e , OREGON BIRDS p r o v i d e s t h i s p r e v i e w o f t h e upcoming 1980 Oregon CBC's. The f o l l o w i n g l i s t , c a l e n d a r and map are i n d e x e d t o t h e 30 c o u n t s t o p r o v i d e a c o n v e n i e n t p l a n n i n g g u i d e f o r b i r d e r s w i s h i n g t o p a r t i c ­i p a t e o v e r t h e Christmas h o l i d a y s .

We encourage each o f you t o t a k e p a r t i n y o u r l o c a l c o u nt o r t h e c o u n t n e a r e s t you. We a l s o encourage you t o c o n s i d e r a s s i s t i n g i n t h e c o u n t s away from t h e p o p u l a t e d w e s t e r n Oregon urban c e n t e r s and i n those c o u n t s t r a d i t i o n a l l y h a v i n g few p a r t i c i p a n t s ( e . g . , Alma-Upper S i u s l a w and Upper N e s t u c c a ) . We a r e p l e a s e d t o r e p o r t t h e Gold Beach c o u n t has been resumed a f t e r a two y e a r absence, and we hope some o f our members w i l l t r a v e l t o Gold Beach on December 2 0 and P o r t O r f o r d on December 27 t o h e l p o u t on t h e two s o u t h e r n Oregon c o a s t a l c o u n t s . W i t h s i x Oregon c o a s t a l c o u n t s r a n g i n g n o r t h w a r d f r o m Gold Beach t o the Columbia E s t u a r y , i t w i l l be i n t e r e s t i n g t o compare r e s u l t s t h i s y e a r .

Each y e a r CBC's b r i n g i n t e r e s t i n g w i n t e r s i g h t i n g s . L a s t year t h e m i l d weather r e s u l t e d i n many "unseasonal" o r " o u t - o f - n o r m a l - r a n g e " f i n d s such as GLOSSY/WHITE-FACED I B I S , TURKEY VULTURE, LONG-BILLED CURLEW, RED KNOT, BLACK TERN, TREE SWALLOW, HOUSE WREN, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, and NASHVILLE WARBLER. Less common w i n t e r v i s i t o r s such as CATTLE EGRET, WHITE-TAILED KITE, BLACK PHOEBE, PALM WARBLER and WHITE-THROATED SPARROW were w e l l r e p r e s e n t e d l a s t y e a r as were w i n t e r wanderers such as HOODED and NORTHERN ORIOLES. A l t h o u g h t h e e a r l y f a l l s t o r m p a t t e r n s i n d i c a t e a more normal w i n t e r t h i s y e a r , u n u s u a l f i n d s are s t i l l bound t o o c c u r .

I n t h e f i r s t 1931 i s s u e o f OREGON BIRDS, we w i l l r e p o r t t h e e a r l y , u n o f f i c i a l r e s u l t s o f t h e 1980 Oregon counts f o r t h e s i x t h c o n s e c u t i v e year.

170

Count Index Number. Count Name 1980 Count Dare Compiler Address Telephone Me e t i n g Place Meeting Time(s)

Alma-Upper S i u s l a w 6. Dec. 28 E.G. W h i t e - S w i f t 711 Country Club Rd. Eugene 97401 687-8161 VIP's, 12 & Oak, Eugene 6:00 a.m.

Columbia E s t u a r y Dec. 21 D a v i d I r o n s 4005 SE Lambert Ave. P o r t l a n d 97202 754-7406 or 771-7170 Sambo's A s t o r i a 7:00 a.m. & 5:00 p.m.

2. A n t e l o p e 7. Dec. 20 S t e w a r t Janes 10719 Woodbine #6 Los Angeles 90034 (213)204-2957 W i l l o w d a l e Cafe 7:30 a.m.

3. Baker 8. No date a t p u b l i c a t i o n L a r r y Roumpf 2815 7 t h Baker 97814 523-5216 Con t a c t C o m p i l e r

Coos Bay Dec. 21 Ben Fawver 793 Johnson Ave. Coos Bay 97420 267-6485 o r 888-2525x242 N o r t h Bend H.S. Room 1 14 t h & P a c i f i c S t . , N.B. 8p.m. ( 1 2 / 2 0 ) , 6p.m. (12/21)

C o r v a l l i s Dec. 2 3 F red Ramsey 3550 NW G l e n r i d g e P I . C o r v a l l i s 97330 753-3677 C o n t a c t Compiler

4. Baker County 9. No date a t p u b l i c a t i o n L a r r y Roumpf 2815 7 t h Baker 97814 523-5216 Contact C o m p i l e r

C o t t a g e Grove Jan. 3 Mike and John P a t t e r s o n 1140 S. 1 0 t h St. C o t t a g e Grove 97424 942-4739 C o n t a c t Compiler

5. Bend 10. Dec. 2 0 L a r r y Baker 63011 O.B. R i l e y Rd. Bend 97701 382-0382 Pioneer Park 6:00 a.m.

D a l l a s Dec. 3 0 Barbara Rupers 2245 Oak Grove Rd.NW Salem 97304 364-0774 HQ B a s k e t t Slough NWR 7:30 A.m.

17:

11. Eugene Dec. 21 Steve Gordon 1140 W. 2 4 t h Ave. Eugene 97405 344-9591 C o n t a c t Comoiler

16. Medford Jan. 3 James D o u g a l l 509 Holmes Ave. Medford 97501 779-8725 BLM O f f i c e

3040 B i d d l e Rd. 7:30 a.m.

Med.

12. Gold Beach Dec. 2 0 Fred Bowen P.O. Box 174 Gold Beach 97444 247-6490 Gold Beach H.S. P a r k i n g

L o t 7:00 A.M.

17. Oakridge Dec. 2 7 June McAtee 77574 H i g h P r a i r i e Rd. Oakridge 97463 782-2008 Greenwaters Park 7:00 a.m-

13. H a r t Mountain NWR Dec. 2 7 Ken Voget 853 M i l l v i e w Lakeview 97630 947-3315W o r 947-4846h F r o n t o f P.O. B u i l d i n g 6:30 a.m.

18. P o r t O r f o r d Dec. 2 7 Dennis Rogers S t a r Rte. Box 151A P o r t O r f o r d 97465 683-8124 o r 332-2555 C o n t a c t Compiler

14. Klamath F a l l s Dec. 2 7 Steve Summers 100 9 Merryman Dr. Klamath F a l l s 97601 884-1938 C o n t a c t Comoiler

19. P o r t l a n d Jan. 3 James Olson 18107 SW Sandra Ln. Beaverton 97006 649-4516 C o n t a c t C o m p i l e r

Malheur NWR Dec. 2 0 Steve Thompson P.O. Box 113 Burns 97 72 0 493-2323 He a d q u a r t e r s 6:00 a.m.

20. R o s e b u r g - S u t h e r l i n Jan. 3 Jim C o l l i n s 2020 SW B u r d e t t e Roseburg 97470 440-3353w o r 679-9739h C o n t a c t Compiler

172

2 1 . Ruggs-Hardman 26. Dec. 22 Stephen B r o w n f i e l d Heppner H i g h School Heppner 9783 6 676-9696 Heppner H.S. 7:00 a.m.

Union County Dec. 20 Ron Rohweder 1710 2nd S t r e e t LaGrande 97850 963-2138w or 963-9656h USFS Range S W i l d l i f e Lab 7:00 a.m.

22. Salem Dec. 27 Ger a l d Smith 4463 Lance Ct. NE Salem 97303 393-3863 Con t a c t C o m p i l e r

Upper Nestucca Dec. 21 L a r r y S c o f i e l d BLM 3 55 0 L i b e r t y Rd. S. Salem 97302 399-5630w o r 787-3833h Hi g h Spot R e s t a u r a n t

W i l l a m i n a 7:30 a.m.

23. Sauvie I s l a n d Dec. 27 J e f f G i l l i g a n 5333 NE 2 7 t h Ave. P o r t l a n d 97211 287-5305 Sauvie I s l a n d B r i d g e 7:15 a.m.

24. Sodhouse Dec. 22 Steve Thompson P.O. Box 113 Burns 97720 493-2323 Headquarters 6:00 a.m.

28. U t o p i a Dec. 21 S t e w a r t Janes 10719 Woodbine #6 Los Angeles 90034 (213)204-2957 USFS Campground

Haystack R e s e r v o i r 7:30 a.m.

29. Wallowa County Dec. 21 Frank Conley P.O. Box 6 Joseoh 97846 432-5702 C i r c l e T Ranch Cafe

E n t e r p r i s e 6:30-7:30 a.m. .

25. T i l l a m o o k Bay 30. Dec. 20 W i l l i a m T h a c k a b e r r y 38969 G r i g g s Dr. Lebanon 973 55 258-5422 B i g Cheese R e s t a u r a n t

T i l l a m o o k 6:45a.m.

Yaquina Bay Jan. 4 Pau l Reed 326 NE 11th Newport 973 65 265-7386 OSU Marine Science Center 7:00 a.m.

173

Sat.

1980 C

BC Calendar

San. Hon.

Tues. Wed.

Thurs. Fri.

^20 \

2 Antelope !

3 Bend

12 Gold

Beach 15 Malheur

NWR 25

Tillamook 26

Union Co.

I 21

1 6 Columbia Est. 7 Coos

Bay 11

Eugene 2 7 L'pper Nest-

ucca 28

Utopia 2 9 Wallowa

Co.

22 21 Ruggs-Hard-man

24 Sod-house

23 8 Corval­lis

24 25 Christmas 26

27 13 Hart Mtn.

NWR 14

Klamath Falls

17 Oakridge

19 Port

Orford 22

Salem 23

Sauvie Island

28 1 Alrr.j-Upper

Siuslaw 29 30 10

Dallas 31

1 New Year

2 3 9 Cottage

Grove 16

Medford 18

Portland 2 0 Roseburg

4 30 Yaquina

Bay Dates

for the Baker and

Baker Co.

CBC's were not

available at

time of publication;

for information contact

compiler.

The count numbers

correspond to those

in the accompanying list

and map.

Preview: Columbia Estuary CBC David Irons

I f you e n j o y g e t t i n g c o l d , wet and s e e i n g good b i r d s , the Columbia E s t u a r y C h r i s t m a s B i r d Count i s t h e p l a c e f o r you. I t t o o k a g r e a t d e a l o f courage i n 1979 f o r t h e 27 o b s e r v e r s t o even g e t o u t o f t h e i r c a r s . The weather was c o l d , wet and windy a l m o s t t h e e n t i r e day. The poor weather l a s t year h i n d e r e d l a n d b i r d i n g c o n s i d e r a b l y , and some v e r y common species were missed and many sp e c i e s were f a r below expected numbers. T h i s can be i l l u s t r a t e d by t h e f a c t t h a t t h e r e were 31 sp e c i e s r e p r e s e n t e d by o n l y one i n d i v i d u a l .

Even though most o b s e r v e r s were u n f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e area and t h e weather was bad, 108 sp e c i e s were fou n d , i n c l u d i n g some v e r y i n t e r e s t i n g f i n d s . The most e x c i t i n g b i r d was a BLACK TERN found a l o n g Sunset Beach . . . t h e f i r s t o c c u r r e n c e o f t h i s s p e c i e s on an Oregon CBC. Among the o t h e r unexpected f i n d s were: GLAUCOUS GULL, OLDSQUAW, ANCIENT MURRELET, and a w e l l documented HOUSE WREN.

The c o u n t c i r c l e i s c e n t e r e d about 2.8 m i l e s s o u t h ­west c f Chinook, Washington i n t h e Columbia R i v e r (Refer to map). The m a j o r i t y o f t h e h a b i t a t i s e i t h e r open water (ocean and b r a c k i s h ) o r s p r u c e - a l d e r f o r e s t . F resh water w i t h i n t h e c i r c l e i s r a t h e r l i m i t e d w i t h C o f f e n b u r y Lake and t h e K a r r e n t o n sewage ponds b e i n g t h e two major f r e s h w a t e r b o d i e s .

T h i s c o u n t i s e x c e l l e n t f o r w a t e r f o w l . Baker Bay on the Washington s i d e and Youngs Bay on t h e Oregon s i d e harbor g r e a t numbers o f d i v i n g and d a b b l i n g ducks. L a s t year t h e A s t o r i a l a n d f i l l a t t r a c t e d l a r g e c o n c e n t r a t i o n s o f g u l l s . The j e t t i e s on b o t h s i d e s o f t h e Columbia R i v e r a r e good l o c a t i o n s t o p i c k up p e l a g i c s p e c i e s .

The count i s co-sponsered by the P o r t l a n d and W i l l a p a H i l l s Audubon S o c i e t i e s . The c o - c o m p i l e r s a r e Dave I r o n s o f P o r t l a n d and Susan Saul o f Longview, Washington. T h i s year's c o u n t w i l l be on Sunday, December 21,1980. Observers are t o meet a t t h e Sambo's i n A s t o r i a f o r assignments a t 7:30 a.m. We w i l l meet a g a i n a t timbo's a t 5:00 p.m. f o r a c o m p i l a t i o n o f the day's f i n d i n g s . For f u r t h e r i n f o r m ­a t i o n c o n t a c t Dive I r o n s by w r i t i n g t o him (4005 SE Lambert, P o r t l a n d , Oregon 37202; o r c a l l i n g him a t (503) 7 5 3 — / 4 0 6 .

176

COLUMBIA ESTUARY CBC

177

Preview: Klamath Falls CBC Steve Summers

On December 15, 1978, a f t e r an e l e v e n y e a r i n t e r r u p ­t i o n , an o f f i c i a l Audubon C h r i s t m a s B i r d Count was h e l d a g a i n i n Klamath F a l l s . D u r i n g t h e 1960's, f r o m 1961 t o 1967, seven CBC's were c o n d u c t e d t h e r e . L a s t year t h e renewed c o u n t was h e l d f o r t h e second t i m e and i t became the f i r s t e a s t e r n Oregon c o u n t t o break t h e 100 s p e c i e s mark w i t h 105 b e i n g r e c o r d e d . We're g o i n g t o t r y and break t h e 100 mark ag a i n t h i s y ear on December 27.

The c i r c l e f o r t h e c o u n t i s t h e same as t h e counts h e l d i n t h e 1960's w i t h t h e c o u n t c e n t e r a t K i n g s l e y F i e l d , j u s t s o u t h o f Klamath F a l l s ( Refer t o Map). T h i s c i r c l e i n c l u d e s t h e s o u t h e r n p o r t i o n o f Upper Klamath Lake, Moore Park, L i n k R i v e r , Lake Ewauna, M i l l e r I s l a n d , Klamath F a l l s , s e v e r a l m i l e s o f t h e Klamath and L o s t R i v e r s , and p o r t i o n s o f t h e Klamath H i l l s and t h e o l d Lower Klamath Lake bed.

W i t h i n t h e c i r c l e i s a v a r i e t y o f h a b i t a t s i n c l u d i n g marshes, l a k e s , r i v e r s , sagebrush d e s e r t s , j u n i p e r u p l a n d s , p i n e and f i r f o r e s t s , a g r i c u l t u r a l areas and urban d e v e l ­opments o f Klamath F a l l s . The weather can be q u i t e v a r i a b l e b u t t h e l a s t two c o u n t s were h e l d i n c l e a r , sunny w e a t h e r . Temperatures have ranged f o r t h e l a s t two c o u n t s f r o m a low o f 8 F t o a h i g h o f 50 F l a s t y e a r . Snow i s always a p o s s i b i l i t y and u s u a l l y o n l y t h e l a r g e r bodies o f w a t e r remain u n f r o z e n .

Some o f t h e more r e g u l a r l y r e c o r d e d s p e c i e s i n c l u d e GREAT BLUE and BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS, CANADA GOOSE, s e v e r a l s p e c i e s o f ducks, ROUGH-LEGGED and RED-TAILED HAWKS, BALD EAGLE, g u l l s ( s i x s p e c i e s f o u n d l a s t y e a r ) , BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE, MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE, BUSHTIT, PYGMY NUTHATCH, and TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE. PLAIN TITMOUSE and TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD, a c o u p l e o f s o u t h e r n Oregon s p e c i a l i t i e s have been f o u n d i n b o t h o f t h e l a s t two c o u n t s . The s o u t h e r n end o f Upper Klamath Lake and t h e L i n k R i v e r p r o v i d e a r e g u l a r w i n t e r i n g area f o r t h e BARROW'S GOLDENEYE. L a s t y e a r 12 3 were f o u n d , a new Oregon a l l t i m e h i g h . Some o f t h e more u n u s u a l species f o r t h i s a r e a o r t h i s t i m e o f year r e c o r d e d on t h e renewed c o u n t s i n c l u d e OLDSQUAW, AMERICAN AVOCET, GLAUCOUS-WINGED, MEW, and BONAPARTE'S GULLS, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, and LAPLAND LONGSPUR.

178

The TREE SPARROW has been f o u n d r e g u l a r l y i n t h e Klamath Basin i n t h e l a s t few y e a r s so i t i s o n l y a m a t t e r o f t i m e b e f o r e i t shows up on a Klamath F a l l s CBC. A l s o o t h e r hoped f o r " n o r t h e r n i n v a d e r s " such as BOHEMIAN WAX-WING, PINE GROSBEAK, HARRIS1 SPARROW, l o n g s p u r s , and SNOW BUNTING are l o o k e d f o r each y e a r . A l t h o u g h t h e s e s p e c i e s a r e r a r e , t h e y a l l have been r e c o r d e d i n t h e B a s i n .

The Klamath B i s i n i s a v e r y good b i r d i n g area b u t t h e r e are v e r y few r e s i d e n t b i r d e r s . Our l a s t two counts have been v e r y s u c c e s s f u l due t o t h e h e l p o f f r i e n d s from t h e Rogue V a l l e y , Wolf Creek and Eugene are a s . So a l l t h e h e l p we can g e t i s a p p r e c i a t e d and i f you s h o u l d d e c i d e t o t r y our c o u n t , a warm welcome you w i l l g e t . ( C o n t a c t Steve Summers by w r i t i n g o r c a l l i n g : 1009 Merryman D r i v e , Klamath F a l l s , Oregon 97601, 884-1938).

KLAMATH FALLS CBC

179

Birding Ethics Mark Egger

I n r e c e n t months I have become concerned w i t h t h e problems and c h a l l e n g e s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e e f f e c t s o f t h e e v er i n c r e a s i n g number o f b i r d e r s and b i r d -w a t c h i n g groups upon t h e n e s t i n g success and s u r v i v a l o f t h e f a s c i n a t i n g c r e a t u r e s we a l l pursue so d i l i g e n t l y . The i s s u e f i r s t arose c l e a r l y w i t h t h e news o f t h e t r a m p l i n g o f a BLACK RAIL by a group o f " l i s t e r s " i n C a l i f o r n i a . An e x c e l l e n t r e v i e w o f t h i s and o t h e r b i r d e r abuses appeared i n t h e J u l y 1979 i s s u e o f Audubon ( 8 1 ( 4 ) : 8 9 - 1 0 0 ) . Of even more d i r e c t concern t o me as a r e a d e r o f and c o n t r i b u t o r t o OREGON BIRDS i s t h e m a t t e r o f p u b l i s h e d d i s c l o s u r e o f n e s t i n g l o c a t i o n s o f s e n s i t i v e and/or t h r e a t e n e d s p e c i e s . Many w r i t e r s , i n c l u d i n g m y s e l f , have somewhat t h o u g h t l e s s l y g i v e n o u t such l o c a t i o n s w i t h o u t con­s i d e r a t i o n f o r t h e p o t e n t i a l i m p a c t on t h e b i r d s them­s e l v e s . T h i s paper, t h e n , i s i n t e n d e d as a s u g g e s t i o n o f some e t h i c a l g u i d e l i n e s f o r (1) i n d i v i d u a l b i r d e r s , (2) b i r d i n g groups ( e s p e c i a l l y o r g a n i z e d t o u r s and c l a s s e s ) , and (3) b i r d i n g p u b l i c a t i o n s . I hope t o submit a s i m i l a r s e t o f g u i d e l i n e s i n t h e f o r m o f a r e s o l u t i o n b e f o r e t h e OFO b o a r d .

I . GUIDELINES FOR INDIVIDUAL BIRDERS

A. Respect f o r t h e S p e c i e s . I n a l l o f one's b i r d i n g a c t i v i t i e s t h e r e s h o u l d be an a s s u m p t i o n o f r e s p e c t f o r t h e s p e c i e s i n v o l v e d . A l t h o u g h t h e r a r i t y and s e n s i t i v i t y o f a p a r t i c u l a r s p e c i e s may r e q u i r e e x t r a p r e c a u t i o n s , a l l s p e c i e s deserve t h e b i r d e r ' s r e s p e c t as l i v i n g c r e a t u r e s . A c t i v i t i e s t h a t harass any b i r d u n d u l y s h o u l d be a v o i d e d . B u i l d i n g one's l i s t s h o u l d never supersede t h e needs o f a s p e c i e s o r j u s t i f y excesses i n t h e name o f a c q u i r i n g a "new b i r d " .

B. Respect f o r t h e B r e e d i n g Season. B i r d s a r e p a r t i c u l a r l y v u l n e r a b l e t o d i s t u r b a n c e d u r i n g t h e b r e e d i n g and n e s t i n g season. S p e c i a l c a r e s h o u l d be t a k e n d u r i n g t h e s e t i m e s , w h i c h a l s o c o r r e s p o n d t o t h e g r e a t e s t y e a r l y a c t i v i t y p e r i o d f o r b i r d s t u d e n t s . S p e c i f i c a l l y , t h e use o f t a p e r e c o r d e r s t o " c a l l o u t " b i r d s s h o u l d be a v o i d e d i f a t a l l p o s s i b l e . There s h o u l d be an a b s o l u t e and w i d e l y u n d e r s t o o d p r o ­s c r i p t i o n on t h e use o f r e c o r d e r s around r a r e , endangered and s e n s i t i v e s p e c i e s .

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A l t h o u g h n e s t f i n d i n g i s a v e r y r e w a r d i n g a s p e c t o f b i r d i n g , g r e a t c a u t i o n s h o u l d be e x e r c i s e d . Know t h e b i o l o g y o f a s p e c i e s w e l l b e f o r e a p p r o a c h i n g a n e s t . Some b i r d s a r e v e r y t o l e r a n t o f approach, w h i l e o t h e r s p e c i e s may d e s e r t a n e s t so examined. T h i s may a l s o v a r y a c c o r d i n g t o t h e t i m e w i t h i n t h e n e s t i n g c y c l e . As a r u l e , b i r d s are more s e n s i t i v e e a r l y i n t h e n e s t i n g c y c l e . I f you a r e unsure o f t h e e f f e c t s y ou may have on a p a r t i c u l a r s p e c i e s , g i v e t h e b i r d t h e b e n e f i t o f t h e d o u b t , and s t a y away.

P a r t i c u l a r c a u t i o n s h o u l d be e x h i b i t e d t o w a r d t h e n e s t i n g areas o f g r o u n d - n e s t i n g s p e c i e s . A good example i s t h e UPLAND SANDPIPER i n Oregon. As a b r e e d e r i n t h e s t a t e , t h i s s p e c i e s i s e x t r e m e l y r a r e , and undue p r e s s u r e from b i r d e r s c o u l d have a d r a s t i c e f f e c t on t h e presence o r absence o f t h i s s p e c i e s as a n e s t e r i n Oregon. Extreme c a u t i o n i s a d v i s e d i n a p p r o a c h i n g t h e i r n e s t i n g areas t o a v o i d d i s t u r b a n c e t o t h i s wary s p e c i e s , t o a v o i d p o s s i b l e t r a m p l i n g o f n e s t s and eggs, w h i c h are w e l l c o n c e a l e d i n m i d - h e i g h t g r a s s clumps, and t o a v o i d a t t r a c t i n g t h e a t t e n t i o n o f p r e d a t o r s t o t h e n e s t . A p p r o a c h i n g such n e s t s l e a v e s them v u l n e r a b l e t o p r e d a t i o n from v i s u a l s i g n a l s t o such n e s t - r o b b e r s as j a y s , crows and r a v e n s , as w e l l as f r o m o l f a c t o r y s i g n a l s t o mammals such as racoons and c o y o t e s .

Other t h i n g s t o remember i n o b s e r v i n g n e s t s and n e s t i n g b i r d s i n c l u d e the f o l l o w i n g : (1) Be c a u t i o u s i n t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n and/or p u b l i c a t i o n o f n e s t i n g l o c a t i o n s o f s e n s i t i v e s p e c i e s . Be- sure t h a t w a r n i n g s c o n c e r n i n g t h e e x p l i c i t c a u t i o n s needed i n a p p r o a c h i n g such a s p e c i e s accompany any v e r b a l o r w r i t t e n communication of n e s t i n g areas. (2) C o l l e c t i o n o f n e s t s s h o u l d o n l y be done i n w i n t e r o r when t h e n e s t has o b v i o u s l y been d e s e r t e d f o r an extended p e r i o d . (3) Do n o t d i s t u r b v e g e t a t i o n s u r r o u n d i n g any n e s t o r move a n e s t f o r p h o t o g r a p h i c purposes.

C. Respect f o r t h e H a b i t a t . A l l n a t u r a l h a b i t a t s s h o u l d be t r e a t e d w i t h r e s p e c t and c a r e . R e a l i z e t h a t y o u r a c t i o n s i n an area can have d r a s t i c e f f e c t s on t h e s t r u c t u r e and v i a b i l i t y o f t h e community as a h a b i t a t f o r b i r d s and o t h e r l i f e f o r m s . Work wherever p o s s i b l e f o r t h e p r e s e r v a t i o n o f n a t u r a l h a b i t a t s . H a b i t a t d e s t r u c t i o n i s t h e g r e a t e s t t h r e a t o f a l l t o most forms o f w i l d l i f e . Some communities a r e much more e a s i l y d i s r u p t e d t h a n o t h e r s . More s e n s i t i v e areas i n c l u d e t u n d r a and a l p i n e a s s o c i a t i o n s , some marsh and w e t l a n d areas and c e r t a i n a r i d - l a n d communities. I n g e n e r a l , t h e s l o w e r and/or more ti m e r e s t r i c t e d t h e " p r o d u c t i o n " o f t h e community, t h e more s u b j e c t i t w i l l be t o l o n g t e r m i m p a c t by v i s i t o r s .

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I I . GUIDELINES FOR BIRDING GROUPS (CLASSES, TOURS AND FIELD TRIPS)

A. G u i d e l i n e s f o r Leaders. Group l e a d e r s bear t h e paramount e t h i c a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , n o t o n l y f o r t h e i r own a c t i o n s , b u t a l s o , by word and deed, f o r th e a c t i o n s o f a l l people i n t h e group. Leaders s h o u l d observe a l l t h e p r e c a u t i o n s e x p e c t e d f o r the i n d i v i d u a l , as w e l l as t h o s e i n h e r e n t i n t h e r e a l i ­z a t i o n t h a t groups can and do e x h i b i t an al m o s t s y n e r g i s t i c a m p l i f i c a t i o n o f p o t e n t i a l hazards t o b i r d s and t h e i r h a b i t a t s . For example, w h i l e one person a p p r o a c h i n g a n e s t may have n e g l i g i b l e e f f e c t , 25 p e o p l e d o i n g so may have a d i s a s t e r o u s i m p a c t . I n a d d i t i o n , a g g r e s s i v e members o f a group s h o u l d be c o n s t r a i n e d when a p p r o p r i a t e , as t h e y may encourage o t h e r , more c a u t i o u s i n d i v i d u a l s t o move beyond t h e re a s o n a b l e l i m i t s o f o b s e r v a t i o n . Group l e a d e r s must a v o i d w i t h d i l i g e n c e t h e t e m p t a t i o n o f " p r o m i s i n g " a p a r t i c u l a r s p e c i e s t o a gr o u p , an a c t i o n t h a t v e r y o f t e n l e a d s t o excesses i n an a t t e m p t t o d e l i v e r .

B. G u i d e l i n e s f o r Group Members. Members o f any group b i r d i n g a c t i v i t y s h o u l d observe a l l i n d i v i d u a l g u i d e l i n e s , f o l l o w t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s o f t h e group l e a d e r (s) e x p l i c i t l y and behave i n a r e s p o n s i b l e manner i n k e e p i n g w i t h t h e d e s t r u c t i v e p o t e n t i a l o f groups o f humans on n a t u r a l communities.

I I I . GUIDELINES FOR PUBLICATIONS.

I n p u b l i s h i n g s i t e g u i d e s , maps t o n e s t i n g areas of p a r t i c u l a r s p e c i e s and r e c o r d s o f s i g h t i n g s o f r a r e , endangered or s e n s i t i v e s p e c i e s , e d i t o r s and w r i t e r s s h o u l d be c o g n i z a n t o f t h e s t a t u s and b i o l o g y o f t h e s p e c i e s i n v o l v e d and e x e r c i s e d i s c r e t i o n a p p r o p r i a t e l y . I n c e r t a i n cases, t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f w h i c h s h o u l d be d e t e r m i n e d by e d i t o r i a l committee, e x a c t l o c a t i o n s s h o u l d n o t be p u b l i s h e d a t a l l . I n o t h e r cases, p r e c a u t i o n a r y w a r n i n g s a p p r o p r i a t e t o the s p e c i e s s h o u l d accompany t h e l o c a t i o n map o r s i t e g u i d e . T h i s i s a s e r i o u s i s s u e , and e d i t o r s s h o u l d t r e a t i t as such. The p u b l i c a t i o n o f n e s t i n g l o c a t i o n s opens a v i r t u a l l y u n c o n t r o l l a b l e s i t u a t i o n i n w h i c h unknown i n d i v i d u a l s may use t h e i n f o r m a t i o n p r o v i d e d i n such a way t h a t , c o n s c i o u s l y o r uncon­s c i o u s l y , harm may be done t o t h e n e s t i n g success o f unusual and/or f r a g i l e s p e c i e s . r l t i m a t e l y , good judgment and awareness o f t h e needs o f v a r i o u s s p e c i e s w i l l be the b e s t d i s c r e t i o n a r y g u i d e l i n e s f o r e d i t o r s .

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CONCLUSION

An u n d e r s t a n d i n g and i n t e g r a t i o n i n t o one's b i r d i n g h a b i t s o f t h e g u i d e l i n e s o u t l i n e d here and elsewhere s h o u l d c o n t r i b u t e g r e a t l y , not o n l y t o t h e c o n t i n u e d e x i s t e n c e and f l o u r i s h i n g of birds', b u t " ' a l s o t o t h e p e r s o n a l s a t i s f a c t i o n o f behaving i n a manner t h a t i s c o n s i s t e n t w i t h a c o n t i n u a t i o n o f good b i r d i n g o p p o r t u n i t i e s .

Detailed Field Notes: Ruff and Mongolian Plover Harry Nehls

Harry Nehl's f i e l d notes for RUFF and MONGOLIAN PLOVER are printed here for two reasons; they are good examples of f i e l d notes for rare species and they provide descriptions and f i e l d marks for two rare Oregon species. We plan to periodically publi sh examples of f i e l d notes received by the Oregon Bird Records Committee.

RUFF ( 1 ) , September 8, 1979, South J e t t y o f t h e Columbia R i v e r , C l a t s o p County, Oregon, by H a r r y Nehls w i t h o t h e r s

Joe E v a n i c h and I met T e r r y Morgan on t h e s h o r e b i r d f l a t s b e h i n d t h e j e t t y f o r t h e a f t e r n o o n h i g h t i d e t h i s day. I t was a v e r y w i n d y a f t e r n o o n w i t h s c a t t e r e d thunder showers and r a i n storms r e g u l a r l y p a s s i n g t h r o u g h The wind was m a i n l y from t h e s o u t h a t abo u t 30-40 m i l e s per hour. The t i d e was 8.7 pushed by h i g h wave a c t i o n from o f f s h o r e . I t c o m p l e t e l y f l o o d e d t h e f l a t s and f o r c e d t h e b i r d s t o t h e open beaches o r o n t o h i g h d r y ground.

At about 6:00 p.m., t h e t i d e had dropped t o t h e p o i n t where some o f t h e g r a s s y areas on t h e f l a t s were becoming exposed and t h e peeps and o t h e r s h o r e b i r d s were a g a i n moving i n . A f l o c k o f about 4 0 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS dropped i n t o t h e gra s s y f l a t and began t o fe e d . W i t h them was a PINTAIL. A f t e r w a t c h i n g t h e b i r d s f o r about t e n m i n u t e s , Evanich n o t e d a l a r g e r s h o r e b i r d among t h e DOWITCHERS. A l t h o u g h s i m i l a r l y •plumaged and e a s i l y o v e r l o o k e d among t h e DOWITCHERS, i t s much l a r g e r s i z e and s h o r t e r b i l l made t h e b i r d q u i t e c o n s p i c u o u s on c l o s e e x a m i n a t i o n . I t appeared t o be h a l f a g a i n l a r g e r t h a n t h e DOWITCHERS. For t h e next t h i r t y m inutes a number o f photographs were t a k e n of t h e b i r d , a l t h o u g h t h e sun was hi d d e n b e h i n d dark c l o u d s . Approaches as c l o s e as 15 f e e t were made and d e t a i l s were r e c o r d e d o f t h e b i r d b o t h on t h e ground and i n f l i g h t . At no t i m e d i d I note any c a l l n o t e s o r v o i c e . Most o f t h e t i m e t h e b i r d was calm and c a s u a l , f e e d i n g w i t h t h e DOWITCHERS. A f t e r a w h i l e t h e b i r d became a g i t a t e d and f l e w r a p i d l y o v e r t h e f l a t s , s e t t i n g down a t v a r i o u s s p o t s o n l y t o f l y up a g a i n and soon r e t u r n t o t h e DOWITCHERS. A v e r y b r i e f b u t heavy r a i n c r o s s e d t h e f l a t s and a l l t h e DOWITCHERS and t h i s b i r d f l e w up and away t o t h e s o u t h e a s t .

When f i r s t n o t e d , t h i s b i r d showed y e l l o w i s h l e g s , b l a c k b i l l and a r e d d i s h - b u f f s u f f u s i o n on t h e head and b r e a s t . The r e s t o f t h e plumage was b r o w n i s h and d u l l g r a y i s h w h i t e . No pure w h i t e was n o t i c e a b l e a t a l l . Upon c l o s e approach i t was seen to be d i f f e r e n t l y c o l o r e d

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A p p a r e n t l y t h e degree o f s u n l i g h t had much t o do w i t h t h i s . The b i l l was w h o l l y b l a c k , t h e leg s were d e c i d e d l y g r e e n i s h and t h e s u f f u s i o n on t h e head, neck and b r e a s t was more g r a y i s h . The f a c e was l i g h t e r showing no b u f f y . The u n d e r p a r t s below t h e sharp d e m a r k a t i o n o f t h e b r e a s t c o l o r a t i o n were d u l l g r ay w h i t e . The back was br o w n i s h and b u f f y w i t h most back f e a t h e r s edged b r o a d l y , g i v i n g a s c a l l o p e d and s t r e a k e d appearance t o t h e p a t t e r n . The wings and t a i l were equal l e n g t h e d . Some c h e s t n u t edgings were n o t e d on the t e r t i a l s , b u t t h i s c o l o r appeared t o be c o n f i n e d t o t h i s s e c t i o n . The b i l l was s t o u t , t a p e r i n g a b i t and seemed t o be m o d e r a t e l y l o n g . The body appeared r a t h e r heavy and t h e o v e r a l l shape o f t h e b i r d was s i m i l a r t o a WILLET. I t k e p t i t s body h o r i z o n t a l t o t h e ground and t h e head was h e l d low. Most o f t h e t i m e i t f e d by p i c k i n g i n f r o n t o f i t .

I n f l i g h t , t h e wings appeared l o n g and t a p e r e d . The t a i l was l o n g and appeared t a p e r e d . F l i g h t was f a s t and d i r e c t . The underwings were l i g h t and perhaps a b i t l i n e d w i t h b l a c k . The t a i l was d a r k e r t h a n t h e back and t h e w i n g s showed a narrow conspicuous w h i t e w i n g s t r i p e . V e r y p r o m i n e n t w h i t e patches were no t e d on each f l a n k s e p a r a t e d by a b l a c k i s h s t r e a k down t h e back. The w h i t e appeared t o merge above t h e t a i l t o g i v e t h e appearance o f a 'U' shaped w h i t e rump p a t c h , o n l y i n f u l l - o u t f l i g h t . On t h e ground t h e pa t c h e s were f u l l y s e p a r a t e d . O v e r a l l t h e b i r d appeared t o be v e r y d a r k brown a l l over w i t h b r i g h t wing s t r i p e s and f l a n k p a t c h e s . I t was a v e r y s t r e a m l i n e d b i r d i n f l i g h t w i t h l o n g t a p e r e d wings and l o n g , t h i n l o o k i n g body. D u r i n g t h e p e r i o d o f o b s e r v a t i o n , s i x p e o p l e were p r e s e n t and comparing n o t e s .

MONGOLIAN PLOVER ( 1 ) , October 16, 1979, South J e t t y o f t h e Columbia R i v e r , C l a t s o p County, Oregon, by Ha r r y Nehls.

At about noon t h i s cay, a t extreme h i g h t i d e , and i n a d r i v i n g r a i n storm I observed an unusual l o o k i n g l i t t l e p l o v e r among t h e s h o r e b i r d s on the s h o r e b i r d f l a t s b e h i n d t h e j e t t y . I t appeared t o p r e f e r t h e company o f DUNLIN and SANDERLING.

The b i r d had dark l e g s and b i l l , a s o l i d g r a y i s h -sandy c o l o r e d back, n o t showing any neck r i n g o r o t h e r markings. U n d e r p a r t s were l i g h t , w i t h a d a r k b r e a s t r i n g , faded c o n s i d e r a b l y a t c e n t e r b r e a s t t o make i t l o o k l i k e two d a r k s t r e a k s a t t h e s i d e s o f t h e b r e a s t , n o t connected. Below the b r e a s t r i n g was a def u s e d band o f p a l e cinnamon. T h r o a t , forehead i n f r o n t o f eye, and s t r e a k b e h i n d eye w h i t e . I n f l i g h t , i t appeared as a d a r k g r a y i s h - b r o w n b i r d w i t h no d i s t i n ­g u i s h a b l e f i e l d marks and no w h i t e showing a t t h e s i d e s o f t h e rump o r t a i l .

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S i z e and shape were q u i t e s i m i l a r t o t h e SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, b u t t h e back was d a r k e r , t h e l e g s d a r k , t h e b r e a s t band i n c o m p l e t e and showing c o n s i d e r a b l e cinnamon-b u f f on t h e low e r b r e a s t . The l i g h t head markings gave the b i l l a s t r a n g e l o o k . W h i l e i watched i t , i t p i c k e d up a l i v e l y , w r i g g l i n g worm and was h a v i n g t r o u b l e k e e p i n g i t f r o m w r i g g l i n g away over t h e f l a t s . I t f i n a l l y k i l l e d and a t e i t .

The f l o c k f l u s h e d t w i c e and moved t o a nearby sand b a r , b u t soon r e t u r n e d t o t h e o r i g i n a l l o c a t i o n b o t h t i m e s . I t was t y p i c a l l y p l o v e r unapproachable a t f i r s t , b u t a f t e r i t r e t u r n e d t h e f i r s t t i m e I was a b l e t o g e t t o w i t h i n t w e n t y f e e t o f i t . Something t h a t I c o u l d never do w i t h a SEMIPALMATED PLOVER. The second t i m e th e f l o c k f l u s h e d I l e f t t h e ar e a , a f t e r w a t c h i n g t h e b i r d about t w e n t y m i n u t e s and t a k i n g a b o u t a dozen ph o t o g r a p h s . A t about 1330 t h e f l o c k s l e f t t h e sho r e -b i r d f l a t s t o w a r d t h e i n s i d e bay s o u t h e a s t o f t h i s h i g h t i d e g a t h e r i n g area.

T h i s was a much b r i g h t e r b i r d t h a n t h e one t h a t appeared on t h e Bayocean F l a t s a t T i l l a m o o k Bay September 12, 1977. I observed t h a t b i r d and watched i t f o r some t i m e . The T i l l a m o o k b i r d remained i n company w i t h SEMIPALMATED PLOVER. The South J e t t y b i r d had no SEMIPALMATED PLOVER t o keep company w i t h , however, a f t e r t h e b i r d l e f t I d i d see a SEMIPALMATED on t h e same f l a t s , where t h a t f l o c k had been f e e d i n g .

Detailed Field Notes: Blue Jay Wayne Hoffman

These f i e l d notes represent the f i r s t known record for BLUE JAY i n Oregon. Unlike the previous notes by Harry Nehls, Wayne Hoffman did not dwell on the details of the physical appearance of the subject species. We think you w i l l enjoy his notes for different reasons.

BLUE JAY ( 2 ) , December 29, 1973. O n t a r i o , Malheur County, Oregon, by Wayne and W.E. Hoffman.

The c o l d and f r o z e n l andscape appears b a r e o f l i f e , b u t l o o k i n g about we f i n d b i r d s t h a t seem t o f i n d a b e t t e r l i v i n g h e r e t h a n t h a t f r o m whence t h e y f l e d . The CEDAR WAXWINGS a r e i n town l o o k i n g f o r f r o z e n f r u i t s and b e r r i e s , and accompanied by a few o f t h e i r l a r g e r , d a r k e r c o u s i n s , t h e BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS. A wandering f l o c k o f EVENING GROSBEAKS pass by. A young BALD EAGLE f l i e s over town and heads s o u t h . We d o n ' t see i t a g a i n . A SPARROW HAWK (AMERICAN KESTREL) d i v e s f r o m a power p o l e and drops i n t o a clump o f g r a s s , i n s t a n t l y i t i s up a g a i n c l u t c h i n g a t i n y mouse i n one f o o t and f l i e s back t o the p o l e . The mouse had t o e a t , c o l d o r no, and so does the b i r d .

The f r o z e n snow crunches under f o o t as we w a l k along th e r i v e r b a n k . S t a l k i n g i s i m p o s s i b l e . There are n o t many t r a c k s i n t h e snow, perhaps i t i s too f r o z e n f o r s m a l l ones t o show. A few pheasant t r a c k s a r e a l l , p l u s th e t r a i l o f some c a t which seems t o have been everywhere. F i n a l l y a r a b b i t t r a i l . We f o l l o w i t and soon see where t h e c o t t o n t a i l made i t s l a s t , l o n g l e a p . Some g r e a t b i r d has erased i t s t r a i l . S i x gashes are t h r o u g h t h e snow where t h e f l i g h t f e a t h e r s , o f t h e h u n t e r dragged t h e ground as i t t u r n e d t o make t h e c a p t u r e . Ten f e e t f u r t h e r we f i n d t h e head and empty s k i n o f t h e r a b b i t under a bush. As we are p o n d e r i n g t h e i d e n t i t y o f t h e r a p t o r a p r o b a b l e c a n d i d a t e f l i e s i n t o view. A l a r g e g r e y GOSHAWK comes d a r t i n g up t h e r i v e r . A t home i n the t i m b e r e d m o u n t a i n s , i t has d e s e r t e d those snowbound h e i g h t s f o r t h e cottonwoods o f t h e r i v e r bank, where we l a t e r f i n d i t p e r c h i n g on s e v e r a l o c c a s i o n s . A q u a r t e r o f a m i l e on we f i n d where a RING-NECKED PHEASANT had been knocked o u t o f the a i r and e a t e n . Our f r i e n d seems t o be w e l l f e d .

We hear a s t r a n g e c a l l f r o m t h e w i l l o w s a l o n g t h e r i v e r . Rather coarse and l o n g and t o t a l l y unknown. As we cru n c h f o r w a r d t o i n v e s t i g a t e , a b i r d l e a v e s t h e t r e e s and heads a c r o s s t h e r i v e r t o Idaho. Glimpses o f i t t h r o u g h t h e branches g i v e an i m p r e s s i o n o f i t s b e i n g

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somewhat j a y l i k e , b u t u n i d e n t i f i a b l e . A j a y would c e r t a i n l y f i t t h e sound, b u t what k i n d here? The answer cane t h r e e days l a t e r when a p a i r o f them, f r i g h t e n e d by duck h u n t e r s i n a b o a t , f l e w toward us. BLUE JAYS the y were, n o t t h e dark b l u e STELLER'S JAYS we know and t h i n k o f as BLUE JAYS nor t h e a l s o b l u e SCRUB JAYS from s o u t h e r n Oregon, b u t genuine e a s t e r n N o r t h American BLUE JAYS. N e i t h e r o f us has ever heard o f them o c c u r r i n g h e r e . Upon c h e c k i n g l a t e r , we can f i n d no r e c o r d o f one bei n g r e p o r t e d from t h i s S t a t e b e f o r e , b u t do n o t e a de c i d e d westward t r e n d f o r the s p e c i e s i n r e c e n t y e a r s . We may r e a s o n a b l y e x p e c t t o see more o f them i n f u t u r e y e a r s .

I t seems t h a t even t h e n a s t i e s t w e a t h e r b r i n g s a few t h i n g s o f i n t e r e s t w i t h i t . S l i g h t compensation f o r e n d u r i n g i t perhaps, b u t a t l e a s t a l i t t l e .

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Highlights from the Field Notes: Summer 1980 Clarice Watson

A number o f p o s s i b l e Oregon f i r s t r e c o r d s were f o u n d t h i s season and many o t h e r " r a r e , u n u s u a l o r s p e c i a l " b i r d s a p p e a r e d — k e e p i n g l i s t e r s r u n n i n g up, down, back and f o r t h across t h e s t a t e . Some o f those "neat" b i r d s were RUFOUS-NECKED STINT, ALDER FLY­CATCHER, HUDSONIAN GODWIT, RUFF, CAPE MAY WARBLER and LARK BUNTING. D e t a i l s o f th e s e and o t h e r s appear below.

A new f o r m a t i s b e i n g t r i e d f o r t h i s season's summary—the d i v i s i o n o f t h e s t a t e i n t o o n l y two a r e a s — s e p a r a t e d by t h e c r e s t o f t h e Cascades. I f rea d e r s have comments on t h e " o l d " or "new" f o r m a t , t h e y would be a p p r e c i a t e d . A g a i n , as i n t h e l a s t H i g h l i g h t s , t h e a s t e r i s k (*) i n d i c a t e s a r e p o r t has been f i l e d w i t h t h e Oregon B i r d Records Committee and the s i g h t i n g has n o t y e t been re v i e w e d by them a t t h e t i m e o f t h i s w r i t i n g . I t i s obvious t h e p r i n t i n g o f t h e Review L i s t f o r Oregon B i r d s i n V o l . 6, No. 2 o f OREGON BIRDS has helped o b s e r v e r s d e t e r m i n e w h i c h s p e c i e s t o r e p o r t . The response has been v e r y good and we hope i t w i l l c o n t i n u e as w i n t e r r a r i t i e s appear.

The sources used f o r t h i s summary o f s i g h t i n g s a r e l i s t e d a t t h e end of t h i s a r t i c l e .

EAST OF THE CASCADES

A f a i r l y n o r mal summer--a m i l d June and h o t , d r y J u l y and August was e x p e r i e n c e d i n t h i s r e g i o n — w i t h some lat e u n u s u a l s p r i n g m i g r a n t s showing up i n June and r a r e f a l l m i g r a n t s s t a r t i n g t o appear i n e a r l y August.

Not many l o o n s are r e p o r t e d from t h i s a r e a , b u t 3 COMMON LOONS were on W i c k i u p R e s e r v o i r i n Deschutes N a t i o n a l F o r e s t Sep. 5+ ( J A ) . A RED-NECKED GREBE a t Malheur N a t i o n a l W i l d l i f e Refuge ( h e r e a f t e r MNWR) June 20-29 was o u t o f i t s u s u a l t e r r i t o r y i n Harney County (ST, JG). T h i s y e a r , Malheur Lake h o s t e d the h i g h e s t numbers f o r the l a s t t h r e e years o f DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS (180 p a i r s ) , GREAT BLUE HERONS (320 p a i r s ) , SNOWY EGRETS (140 p a i r s ) , WHITE-FACED IBISES (600 p a i r s ) and FRANKLIN'S GULLS (1,250 p a i r s ) . However, numbers f o r BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS and GREAT EGRETS were l e s s t h a n h a l f o f l a s t y e a r ' s

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numbers. Wandering e g r e t s i n c l u d e d 5 GREAT EGRETS a t Cold S p r i n g s N a t i o n a l W i l d l i f e Refuge ( h e r e a f t e r CSNWR) Aug. 26 (CC), Wallowa County's f i r s t SNOWY EGRET a t t h e Wallowa F i s h H a t c h e r y June 4 (MH) and a CATTLE EGRET Aug. 1 a t MNWR (ST). B r e e d i n g w a t e r f o w l had a good year a t MNWR and t h e t h i r d r e c o r d e d n e s t i n g o f a RING-NECKED DUCK o c c u r r e d t h e r e (ST).

R e p o r t s o f n e s t i n g hawks and ea g l e s i n d i c a t e con­d i t i o n s were g e n e r a l l y f a v o r a b l e f o r them, w i t h SWAINSON'S HAWK up 2-3 t i m e s a t MNWR (ST); 35-40 FERRUGINOUS HAWKS' n e s t s i n o n e - t h i r d o f t h e i r n e s t i n g area n o r t h o f E n t e r p r i s e (down f r o m l a s t y e a r ) ; GOLDEN EAGLES u t i l i z i n g 86% o f t r a d i t i o n a l n e s t i n g s i t e s a t MNWR (ST); numerous s i g h t i n g s o f BALD EAGLES and OSPREYS i n t h e Deschutes area; and an immature BALD EAGLE i n t h e Eagle Cap W i l d e r n e s s area i n n o r t h e a s t e r n Oregon (MD). An a l b i n o RED-TAILED HAWK a t t r a c t e d a t t e n t i o n on a ranch near Madras (HP), t h e f i r s t o f t h r e e a l b i n o b i r d s found t h i s season. There were two o b s e r v a t i o n s o f t h e d i f f i c u l t t o f i n d SPRUCE GROUSE, one Aug. 19 a t L i c k Creek (SG) and a n o t h e r near H a r l B u t t e , b o t h i n Wallowa County.

More n e s t i n g o b s e r v a t i o n s i n c l u d e a "good y e a r " f o r t h e SNOWY PLOVER a t Harney Lake (ST) and 21-22 b i r d s i n t h e UPLAND SANDPIPER c o l o n y i n Gra n t County J u l y 2 6 (SHe, e t a l ) . Though t h e l a r g e s t numbers o f m i g r a n t s h o r e b i r d s a r e a l o n g our c o a s t , t h e r e are l a r g e c o n c e n t r a t i o n s o f some sp e c i e s e a s t o f t h e mountains and a r e s p e c t a b l e number o f i n t e r e s t i n g s i n g l e s o r s m a l l groups o f o t h e r s . The f o l l o w i n g were among those r e p o r t e d t h i s y e a r : 4 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS a t CSNWR Aug. 16 (MC); 5 WHIMBRELS Aug. 13 at McKay Creek N a t i o n a l W i l d l i f e Refuge (SG); 2 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS Aug. 11 a t Ladd Creek i n Union County (JE, GS); a WILLET a t Wi c k i u p R e s e r v o i r (JA) ; PECTORAL SANDPIPERS a t CSNWR (MC, NE) and a t Wi c k i u p R e s e v o i r (JA) ; BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS a t CSNWR Sep. 3 (CC) ; a STILT SANDPIPER* a t CSNWR Aug. 26 (CC); a SEMI­PALMATED SANDPIPER* Aug. 11 a t Grande Ronde V a l l e y (JE, GS); 31 MARBLED GODWITS June 26 a t Nyssa ( J G ) — n o doubt n o r t h b o u n d , 1 June 26 a t MNWR (JG) and 3 t h e r e Aug. 4 (ST); 10,000 AMERICAN AVOCETS c o n g r e g a t e d f o r southbound f l i g h t Aug. 6 a t Harney Lake; and " s e v e r a l bunches" o f NORTHERN PHALAROPES a t W i c k i u p R e s e r v o i r i n Sep. (JA) and 2 a t CSNWR Aug. 20 (MC). A BONAPARTE'S GULL w i t h RJNG-BILLEDS and CALIFORNIA GULLS a t Wic k i u p R e s e r v o i r Sep. 10 (JA) i s n o t e w o r t h y as a r e two r e p o r t s o f BAND-TAILED PIGEONS, 2 Sep. 16 a l o n g t h e Deschutes R i v e r (JA) and 1 near Joseph June 23 (FG). '

La Grande b i r d e r s must have been v e r y e x c i t e d t o f i n d two o f t h e s t a t e ' s e l u s i v e and r a r e YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS, 1 a t La Grande Aug. 6-7 (SC, e t a l ) and 1 a t Imnaha, Wallowa County, Aug. 31 (J E ) . A n o t h e r was

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seen by s e v e r a l b i r d e r s a l o n g t h e Owyhee R i v e r near A d r i a n June 7 (JG), Aug. 3* (RP) and Sep. 12* (J&JC). These s i g h t i n g s over t h e summer make n e s t i n g a d i s t i n c t p o s s i b i l i t y .

The n o r t h e a s t e r n c o r n e r o f Oreqon has s u i t a b l e h a b i t a t f o r FLAMMULATED OWLS as evidenced by more r e p o r t s t o add t o those o f r e c e n t y e a r s , 2 n e s t s were found on t h e S t a r k e y E x p e r i m e n t a l F o r e s t i n Union County (EB); and s i n g l e b i r d s were seen o r he a r d near S p r i n g Creek, Union County, Aug. 1 (RR); a t Hat P o i n t , Wallowa County, Aug. 19 (MMa); on Powwatka Ridge, Wallowa County, Aug. 19 (SG); and near S t a r r Campground i n Grant County J u l y 26 (SHe, e t a l ) . Two n e s t s o f the r a r e SAW-WHET OWL were a l s o l o c a t e d i n the S t a r k e y E x p e r i m e n t a l F o r e s t (EB).

BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRDS were found i n Grant County i n Aug. (SG) and a t La Grande 3 BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRDS* were u s i n g a f e e d e r d u r i n g May (JE, J&WB). On t h e e a s t e r n s l o p e o f t h e Cascades, b o t h t h e BLACK-BACKED and NORTHERN THREE-TOED WOODPECKERS were f o u n d , on Aug. 9 and 17, r e s p e c t i v e l y , (BH). The o n l y unusual f l y c a t c h e r d i s c o v e r e d was a p o s s i b l e ALDER FLYCATCHER* seen and h e a r d a t E n t e r p r i s e June 21 (AC, JE) and i t may be an Oregon f i r s t r e c o r d i f accepted by t h e Records Committee. Though n o t a r a r e s p e c i e s , an a l b i n o BARN SWALLOW w i t h a f l o c k o f nor m a l ones i n Sep. must have been a d e l i g h t t o see (P&FH), and t h e BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE i n Madras Aug. 19 (IH) was un u s u a l f o r t h a t s e c t i o n o f e a s t e r n Oregon. J u l y 27 a f a m i l y o f WATER PIPITS, r a r e l y r e p o r t e d i n summer, was fo u n d on L i t t l e Belknap C r a t e r i n the Cascades (DA and f a m i l y ) .

There a r e a few more s i g h t i n g s o f u n u s u a l w a r b l e r s t o add t o t h o s e r e p o r t e d i n t h e S p r i n g H i g h l i g h t s . Four p r o b a b l e TENNESSEE WARBLERS were s p o t t e d d u r i n g f a l l m i g r a t i o n , 2 o f them i n La Grande* on Aug. 20-22 (J E ) , 1 a t Wallowa Lake Aug. 31 (JE) and 1 a t Davis Lake, Deschutes N a t i o n a l F o r e s t , Sept. 4* ( J A ) . An unusual summer s i g h t i n g o f a NORTHERN PARULA was made J u l y 6 a t MNWR (ST) and AMERICAN REDSTARTS were seen i n Union County t h i s summer a f t e r a t h r e e - y e a r absence, and b r e e d i n g was suspected.

WEST OF THE CASCADES

I n t e r e s t i n g r e p o r t s o f f a l l c o a s t a l m i g r a n t s s t a r t e d i n t h e m i d d l e o f August, w i t h r a r e s p e c i e s a p p e a r i n g f r o m mid-September t o mid-October. M i l d weather a l l o w e d t h e i n l a n d m i g r a n t s t o pass w i t h o u t much e v i d e n c e , though a " s t r o n g f l i g h t o f sw a l l o w s " was n o t e d i n Salem i n t h e l a t e a f t e r n o o n o f Aug. 29 f o l l o w i n g a heavy r a i n (TC).

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There were two p e l a g i c t r i p s each i n September and October. The Sep. 20 t r i p f r o m B r o o k i n g s produced 1 each o f MANX SHEARWATER*, SKUA* and FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER*, 15 BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES, 200 PINK-FOOTED and 500 SOOTY SHEARWATERS (JC, DR) and r e c o r d numbers o f a l l t h r e e s p e c i e s o f JAEGERS, perhaps more than 200 (TF). The Sep. 27 t r i p f r o m Newport produced 2 MANX, 1 NEW ZEALAND, 5 0+ PINK-FOOTED and 2 00 SOOTY SHEARWATERS, and 13 RHINOCEROS and 450 CASSIN'S AUKLETS (TC) . Highlights of t h e Oct. 4 Newport t r i p were a SKUA and FULMAR (TF), w h i l e on the Oct. 18 Newport t r i p , FULMARS were f o u n d t o be t h e p r e d o m i n a n t b i r d — more t h a n a l l o t h e r tubenoses p u t t o g e t h e r ( T F ) — w i t h 125 e s t i m a t e d . Oct. 18 i s t h e l a t e s t d a t e b i r d e r s have made a p e l a g i c t r i p and the change i n c o n c e n t r a ­t i o n s o f s p e c i e s f o u n d i s s i g n i f i c a n t .

Each summer, s e v e r a l s p e c i e s t h a t b r e e d i n C a l i ­f o r n i a come n o r t h a l o n g o u r c o a s t - - t h i s y e a r a v e r y e a r l y a r r i v a l was a BROWN PELICAN May 10 a t P o r t O r f o r d (PS) . P o s t - b r e e d i n g GREAT EGRETS were found i n l a r g e numbers i n Sep. when 40 were a t H o r s f a l l Lake near Coos Bay. The 2 immature SNOWY EGRETS a t Euchre Creek Sep. 20 (J&DR, SH, MHu) were p r o b a b l y a l s o p a r t of t h i s movement.

Both BLUE-WINGED and CINNAMON TEAL p a i r s were found a t t h e mouth o f t h e S i x e s R i v e r June 10, and i n e a r l y J u l y a female TEAL was^seen w i t h 5 downy d u c k l i n g s - - e v i d e n c e o f a t l e a s t one s p e c i e s n e s t i n g - - a f i r s t c o a s t a l b r e e d i n g r e c o r d ? ? (J&DR, T L ) .

I t pays t o keep c h e c k i n g t h e hawks c a r e f u l l y , 3 more RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS have been seen t h i s f a l l , a t P i s t o l R i v e r Sep. 9 (JG, D I ) , a t Euchre Creek Sep. 10 (JG, DI) and i n Eugene Oct. 1 (LM, e t a l ) . A PEREGRINE FALCON was h a r a s s i n g STILT SANDPIPERS a t T i l l a m o o k Bay the l a s t few days o f Aug. (ME, TC), 1 was a t Bandon Sep. 12 (D&JR) and a n o t h e r PEREGRINE was a t Yaquina Head i n e a r l y Oct. (CM).

Among t h e n o t e w o r t h y s h o r e b i r d s were a SNOWY PLOVER w i t h young Aug. 24 a t Coos Bay (AM) and s i n g l e s a t Euchre Creek Aug. 24 (J&JC) and T i l l a m o o k Sep. 21 (T&AM). Not as many AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVERS were r e p o r t e d t h i s year as l a s t , b u t s i n g l e b i r d s were found Aug. 24 a t Coos Bay and Newport, Aug. 21 a t Als e a Bay and Aug. 17 and 30 a t T i l l a m o o k . A LONG-BILLED CURLEW was a t Newport Aug. ^4 (J&RK). RED KNOTS d o n ' t " s k i p Oregon" as suggested i n Peterson's F i e l d Guide t o Western Birds... I n r e c e n t y e a r s t h e y ha v " b e e n seen" f a i r l y r e g u l a r l y d u r i n g m i g r a t i o n p e r i o d s , more l i k e l y due t o more and b e t t e r b i r d e r s than a change i n the KNOT'S h a b i t s ! T h i s season's s i g h t i n g s i n c l u d e d 1 a t T i l l a m o o k Aug. 17 (AC), 1 a t

192

OREGON LISTING REPORT FORM

Report totals in designated

spaces as of December 31 and

return by January 31, 1981. For information refer to

"Listing, the Birder's Habit" i

n OREGON BIRDS, Vol. 6, No. 4, 1980.

Send form to: OFO, P.O. Box 10373, Eugene,

Oregon 97440.

Name Address

U. S. Life List

(ABA Area! Oregon Life

List Oregon Year List, 1980

(Threshold) (500) (275) (250)

INDIVIDUAL COUNTY LISTING INFORMATION

Insert County Life

List totals

in excess o

f 100: Baker Benton Clackamas Clatsop Columbia Coos Crook Curry Deschutes Douglas Gilliam Grant Harney Hood River Jackson Jefferson Josephine Klamath

Lake Lane Lincoln Linn Malheur Marion Morrow Multnomah Polk Sherman Tillamook Umatilla Union Wallowa Wasco Washington Wheeler Yamhill

Coos Bay Aug. 22 (EGW, BF, J T ) , 4 a t Simpson Creek Marsh, N o r t h Bend, on Aug. 23 (EGW), 1 a t Euchre Creek Aug. 23 (J&DR, J&JC), 1 a t Newport Aug. 24 (J&RK) and 5 on Sep. 13 a t T i l l a m o o k (TF, e t a l ) .

Two RUFFS showed up t h i s y e a r (Oregon's f i r s t was foun d i n 1979) , 1 Aug. 25 on t h e n o r t h s i d e o f Coos Bay* (EGW, TF) and a n o t h e r a t Bandon* Sep. 12+ (JG, D I , m.ob). I n t e r e s t i n g s a n d p i p e r s l o c a t e d i n c l u d e d 1 SHARP-TAILED a t Bandon Oct. 4* (MHu) and 3 on Sauvie I s l a n d near P o r t l a n d Oct. 11 (JG); 8 PECTORAL w i t h a h i g h number o f 6 a t t h e Nehalem Sewage Ponds Aug. 31 (ME, EE); a t l e a s t 21 BAIRD'S, w i t h 14 a t Coos Bay on Aug. 24 (EGW); 3 STILT* a t T i l l a m o o k Aug. 24-31 (RP, m.ob); 3 SEMIPALMATED a t T i l l a m o o k Aug. 17 (m.ob); and 2 BUFF-BREASTED* a t T i l l a m o o k Aug. 22+ (RP, m.ob), 1 a t Agate R e s e r v o i r i n Jackson County Sep. 12 (V&BSh) and 1 a t Sauvie I s l a n d Sep. 18 ( D I ) .

Perhaps t h e " b e s t " b i r d o f t h e season, and maybe a new Oregon r e c o r d , was f o u n d and ph o t o g r a p h e d Aug. 16 a t Bayocean S p i t , T i l l a m o o k , a p o s s i b l e RUFOUS-NECKED STINT* ( s a n d p i p e r ) (JG, DF, m.ob). T h i s A s i a t i c wanderer caused numerous b i r d e r s , most w i t h o u t r a i n c o a t s , t o search t h r o u g h thousands o f "peeps" f o r hours i n p o u r i n g r a i n on Aug. 17 b e f o r e f i n a l l y l o c a t i n g t h e b i r d a g a i n - - t h e y s a i d i t was w o r t h i t ! ! I n 197 8 a LONG-TOED STINT, a n o t h e r A s i a t i c b i r d , was found i n t h i s same area and t h i s year a n o t h e r p o s s i b l e LONG-TOED was t h e r e Aug. 27 ( T F ) , w h i l e a n o t h e r was r e p o r t e d f r o m Newport Aug. 20 (DC).

But t h e RUFOUS-NECKED STINT wasn't t h e o n l y e x c i t e m e n t Aug. 17 a t Bayocean S p i t - - t o t h e amazement o f a l l p r e s e n t , 16 (!!) HUDSONIAN GODWITS* l a n d e d t h e r e f o r a s h o r t t i m e (m.ob) and were p h o t o g r a p h e d . There have been o n l y one o r p o s s i b l y two s i g h t i n g s o f s i n g l e b i r d s o f t h i s s p e c i e s i n Oregon b e f o r e .

BAR-TAILED GODWITS were found i n two c o a s t a l a r eas, 1 a t Coos Bay* Aug. 24-29 (EGW, TF, e t a l ) and 1 Oct. 4 a t Bandon* (MHu).

A p o s s i b l e LAUGHING GULL*, a b i r d n o t y e t on t h e Oregon B i r d L i s t , was seen i n Oregon w a t e r s June 8 fr o m a f i s h i n g b o a t o u t o f I l l w a c o , Washington ( J K i ) . An e a r l y n o r t h b o u n d HEERMANN'S GULL was a t P o r t O r f o r d J u l y 11.

E l z y E l t z r o t h has n o t e d t h a t t h e r e seem t o be p e r i o d i c u n e x p l a i n e d " d i e - o f f s " o f COMMON MURRES, many o f them v e r y young, as e v i d e n c e d by t h e l a r g e numbers found on beaches. T h i s summer 699 were f o u n d between J u l y 5 and Sep. 3 on about 4-1/2 m i l e s o f beach s o u t h o f Newport (BL, f i d e ME). D u r i n g t h e l a s t 10 days o f Aug., a t l e a s t 22 l i v e MARBLED MURRELETS were observed f r o m s e v e r a l c o a s t a l p o i n t s .

193

S i x BLACK SWIFTS were among t h e swallows m e n t i o n e d above on Aug. 29 i n Salem (TC), 3 more were a t T i l l a ­mook Aug. 30 (TC) and 1 a t Powers C i t y Park, Coos County, on Aug. 13 (EGW). Among t h e f l y c a t c h e r s , 2 ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHERS were i n Eugene on June 18 (HW) and 5 BLACK PHOEBES were a l o n g t h e s o u t h e r n c o a s t Sep. 9-10 (JG, D I ) .

I t seems t h a t each season, one o r more MOCKING­BIRDS a r e observed i n t h e s t a t e . T h i s summer t h e r e was 1 i n C o r v a l l i s i n l a t e J u l y (FHa), 1 a t Jordan Cove a l o n g Coos Bay Aug. 9 (BF) and 1 p r o b a b l e immature a t Pony S l o u g h , N o r t h Bend, Sep. 13 (AC). A n o t h e r a l b i n o b i r d , t o add t o t h e two p r e v i o u s l y m e n t i o n e d , was a CEDAR WAXWING i n Eugene Sep. 21 (SG). S e v e r a l southbound v a g r a n t w a r b l e r s were s p o t t e d , i n c l u d i n g a BLACK AND WHITE* a t Roseburg Oct. 20-21 , (A&FP); a w e l l p h o t o g r a p h e d (80 s h o t s i s t h e rumor!) CAPE MAY a t T i l l a m o o k Oct. 19 (OS, JG); a BLACKPOLL* Oct. 10 a t Cape Bl a n c o (J&DR); t h i s y e a r ' s f i r s t PALM Sep. 13 a t t h e S i x e s R i v e r (JR) and an AMERICAN REDSTART Sep. 13 a t T i l l a m o o k (TF, e t a l ) .

On Sep. 1 a w a n d e r i n g f a l l BOBOLINK ( r a r e w est o f t h e Cascades) was a t Fern Ridge R e s e r v o i r near Eugene (SG), and a p o s s i b l e one was seen n e a r t h e Marine Science Center a t Newport i n l a t e O c t . (LO). On Aug. 22 a YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD a l o n g t h e C o q u i l l e R i v e r was f a r f r o m t h a t s p e c i e s u s u a l v a l l e y h a unts (EGW). A male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK Aug. 2-12 a t Gold Beach (LB) i s an u n u s u a l f a l l r e c o r d — m o s t s i g h t i n g s o f t h i s s p e c i e s have been i n t h e s p r i n g . A male LARK BUNTING* i n b r e e d i n g plumage was c a p t u r e d on m o t i o n p i c t u r e a t R i d d l e June 6-7 (RW) and a f a l l plumaged b i r d * was f o u n d Sep. 11 a t Pony Slough (JG, D I , TF, e t a l ) .

RED CROSSBILLS must have n e s t e d i n C o r v a l l i s t h i s y e a r — a n e s t l i n g was f o u n d Aug. 30 ( f i d e ME) and VESPER SPARROWS are a p p a r e n t l y n e s t i n g i n t h e Cape Blanco a r e a — a f a m i l y group was found J u l y 28, 1979 and t h e r e were " s i n g l e " b i r d s t h e r e t h i s y e a r (DR, T L ) . There have been 2 s i g h t i n g s o f LAPLAND LONGSPURS a l r e a d y t h i s f a l l , s i n g l e b i r d s a t Cape Bl a n c o on Sep. 12 (J&DR) and a t Pony Slough Sep. 13 ( A C ) — p e r h a p s an i n d i c a t i o n o f good w i n t e r b i r d i n g t o come!!

CORREGIA: The r e p o r t o f BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRDS i n t h e l a s t H i g h l i g h t s , OREGON BIRDS, V o l . 6, No. 3, p. 124, s h o u l d have r e a d BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRDS.

Some is s u e s o f t h e f o l l o w i n g n e w s l e t t e r s and b u l l e t i n s were used f o r t h i s a r t i c l e : Audubon W a r b l e r (Audubon S o c i e t y o f P o r t l a n d ) ; The Chat

194

(Rogue R i v e r V a l l e y Audubon S o c i e t y ) ; The Chat ( C o r v a l l i s Audubon S o c i e t y ) ; The Eagle Eye ( C e n t r a l Oregon Audubon S o c i e t y ) ; The K a l m i o p s i s Storm P e t r e l ( K a l m i o p s i s Audubon S o c i e t y ) ; Oregon G r a p e l e a f (Salem Audubon S o c i e t y ) ; The Q u a i l (Lane County Audubon S o c i e t y ) ; The Rav-On (Grande Ronde B i r d C l u b ) ; The T a t t l e r (Cape Arago Audubon S o c i e t y ) and t h e Yaquina B i r d e r ' s B u l l e t i n . I n a d d i t i o n , l o g s h e e t s from t h e P o r t l a n d Rare B i r d A l e r t , r e p o r t s t o t h e r e g i o n a l e d i t o r s f o r American B i r d s (ME, ST), p e r s o n a l r e p o r t s (CC, JA) and some r e c o r d s s u b m i t t e d t o t h e Records Committee p r o v i d e d i n f o r m a t i o n .

OBSERVERS: David Anderson, Jon Anderson, J e r r y & Winnie B i n g n e r , Nancy Bock, L o i s Brooks, E v e l y n B u l l , Jim & Judy C a r l s o n , Derb C a r t e r , Frank Conley, A l a n C o n t r e r a s , C r a i g Corder, M a r i o n Corder, Tom C r a b t r e e , S t u a r t Crogham, Mike D a u g h e r t y , M. S. ( E l z y ) E l t z r o t h , E l s i e E l t z r o t h , Joe E v a n i c h , Ben Fawver, Tad F i n n e l l , David F i x , J e f f G i l l i g a n , Steve Gordon, Frank H a l l (FHa), Steve H e i n l , Steve Herman (SHe), I v y H i l t y , P e a r l & F r e d Henske, Mac H u f f , Bob H u n t e r , M a t t Hunter (MHu), Da v i d I r o n s , R i c k & Jan Krabbe, Jack K i l y ( J K i ) , B i l l L o e f f e l , Tom Lund, Mike Mahoney (MMa), C h r i s Marsh, A l a n McGee, L a r r y McQueen, Tom & A l l i s o n M i c k e l , Laimons O s i s , Hamlin P e r k i n s , R i c h a r d Palmer, A l i c e & F r e d P a r k e r , J i m & Dennis Rogers, Ron Rohweder, Georgia Sanderson, Penny Sch.erer, Owen S c h m i t t , V i o l a & B r y r o n Sherman, Jack Thomas, Steve Thompson, E. G. W h i t e - S w i f t , Herb Wisner and Roy W o o d a l l .

REMINDER-TO THE OBSERVERS: Send w r i t t e n d e t a i l s and p h o t o g r a p h s , i f a v a i l a b l e , on r a r e o r u n u s u a l b i r d s f o u n d i n Oregon t o t h e OREGON BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE, P. 0. Box 10373, Eugene, OR 97440.

CLTLX £kea.rwa"ter—'—

195

Species Trail Revisited Tad Finnell

D u r i n g 1978 I made my f i r s t a t t e m p t a t a r e c o r d Oregon y e a r l i s t (1978 OREGON BIRDS, V o l . 4, No. 5, "On t h e Species T r a i l " ) and remarked t h a t I hoped t o improve upon my 197 8 r e c o r d i n 19 79. "On t h e Species T r a i l " was a c h r o n o l o g i c a l account o f t h e e f f o r t and t r a v e l s w h i c h l e d t o t h e r e c o r d Oregon y e a r t o t a l o f 323 s p e c i e s . Now t h a t 1979 has passed and t h e chase i s o v e r , a new Oregon year l i s t r e c o r d has been e s t a b l i s h e d a t 330. U n l i k e t h e c h r o n o l o g i c a l a c c o u n t o u t l i n e d i n t h e 197 8 a r t i c l e , t h i s a r t i c l e e s t a b l i s h e s a g e o g r a p h i c framework f o r b u i l d i n g an Oregon y e a r l i s t .

Many newcomers and o l d - t i m e r s a l i k e among Oregon b i r d e r s o f t e n wonder where and when t h e b e s t p l a c e s ar e t o f i n d c e r t a i n s p e c i e s . W h i l e t h i s was t o u c h e d upon i n t h e e a r l i e r a r t i c l e , more a t t e n t i o n w i l l be g i v e n t o i t here n o t o n l y f o r t h e b e n e f i t o f y e a r l i s t e r s , b u t f o r s t a t e and l i f e l i s t e r s as w e l l .

Depending upon w h i c h s t a t e l i s t you l o o k a t o r who you t a l k t o , one w i l l f i n d t h a t somewhere between 410-430 species have been r e c o r d e d i n Oregon. Many o f th e s e are h y p o t h e t i c a l s , one-time s i g h t i n g s or a c c i ­d e n t a l b i r d s t h a t have wandered f r o m t h e i r r e c o g n i z e d l o c a l e s . Some r a t h e r o u t s t a n d i n g examples a r e BOREAL OWL, LECONTES' THRASHER, PAINTED BUNTING and BRAMBLING. D u r i n g t h e course o f any year t h e r e a r e p r o b a b l y no more t h a n 350-360 s p e c i e s t h a t r e a l i s t i c a l l y c o u l d be ex p e c t e d t o be f o u n d w i t h i n t h e s t a t e , i n c l u d i n g m i g r a n t s and wa n d e r e r s . Communication between b i r d e r s i s a must i n o r d e r t o l o c a t e t h e s e d r i f t e r s . Some no t e s on r a r i t i e s and a c c i d e n t a l s f o l l o w t h e g e o g r a p h i c p r e s e n t a t i o n .

The f o l l o w i n g a c c o u n t i s based on my 1978 and 1979 e x p e r i e n c e w i t h i n t h e framework o f major r e g i o n a l sub­d i v i s i o n s : (1) Eugene-Coos Bay-Newport t r i a n g l e , (2) Eugene-Bend-Klamath F a l l s t r i a n g l e , (3) M e d f o r d , (4) M a l h e u r / s o u t h e a s t e r n Oregon and (5) n o r t h e a s t e r n Oregon. I n t h e s e a c c o u n t s I have r e l i e d on my p e r s o n a l e x p e r i e n c e and t r a v e l s , and i n some i n s t a n c e s p e r s o n a l communication, i n l o c a t i n g t h e more d i f f i c u l t s p e c i e s . S i n c e my home i s i n Eugene, many o f t h e common Oregon s p e c i e s are e n c o u n t e r e d nearby, b u t r e g i o n a l l i s t s r e f l e c t my e x p e r i e n c e . As an example, VESPER SPARROW, fou n d near Eugene, i s a sp e c i e s much e a s i e r t o add t o my y e a r l i s t i n t h e s o u t h e a s t e r n Oregon Great B a s i n c o u n t r y .

196

L i v i n g i n t h e Eugene a r e a a l l o w s t h e r e l a t i v e advantage o f b e i n g r a t h e r c e n t r a l l y l o c a t e d w i t h r e s p e c t t o most o f t h e more p r o d u c t i v e a r e a s . Using Eugene, Coos Bay and Newport as t h e t h r e e t i p s o f a t r i a n g l e , t h e e n c l o s e d l a n d area can y i e l d 189 common sp e c i e s w i t h i n t h e co u r s e o f a y e a r . The f o l l o w i n g 22 l e s s common s p e c i e s w h i c h are more d i f f i c u l t t o f i n d can be l o c a t e d i n t h e g e n e r a l area around t h i s t r i a n g l e :

1. YELLOW-BILLED LOON 12. RED PHALAROPE 2. CATTLE EGRET 13. GLAUCOUS GULL 3. OLDSQUAW 14. THAYER'S GULL 4. PEREGRINE FALCON 15. BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE 5. MERLIN 16. ANCIENT MURRELET 6. SNOWY PLOVER 17. ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD 7. AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER 18. PALM WARBLER 8. SOLITARY SANDPIPER 19. HARRIS' SPARROW 9. SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER 20. WHITE-THROATED SPARROW

10. STILT SANDPIPER 21. LAPLAND LONGSPUR 11. BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER 22. SNOW BUNTING

No owls have been i n c l u d e d i n t h e s e numbers. There a r e 15 r e c o g n i z e d s p e c i e s o c c u r r i n g i n Oregon, i n c l u d i n g t h e o u t - o f - p l a c e BOREAL OWL and t h e e x t r e m e l y r a r e HAWK OWL, w h i c h reduces t h e t o t a l t o a more r e a l i s t i c 13 s p e c i e s :

1. BARN OWL* 2. SCREECH OWL* 3. FLAMMULATED OWL 4. GREAT HORNED OWL* 5. SNOWY OWL 6. PYGMY OWL* 7. BURROWING OWL*

8. BARRED OWL 9. SPOTTED OWL*

10. GREAT GRAY OWL 11. LONG-EARED OWL 12. SHORT-EARED OWL* 13. SAW-WHET OWL*

E i g h t s p e c i e s , marked w i t h an a s t e r i s k , can be found on a r e g u l a r b a s i s w i t h i n t h i s w e s t e r n Oregon t r i a n g u l a r a r e a . .

P e l a g i c s p e c i e s were a l s o e x c l u d e d . There a r e p r o b a b l y a t l e a s t 12 and as many as 15-18 p e l a g i c s t h a t can be seen a t sea d u r i n g t h e co u r s e o f o f f e r e d p e l a g i c t r i p s :

1. BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS 10. LEACH 1S STORM PETREL 2. LAYSAN ALBATROSS 11. POMARINE JAEGER 3. NORTHERN FULMAR 12. PARASITIC JAEGER 4. PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER 13. LONG-TAILED JAEGER 5. FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER 14 . SKUA 6. BULLER'S SHEARWATER 15 . SABINE'S GULL 7. SOOTY SHEARWATER 16. CASSIN'S AUKLET 8. SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER 17. RHINOCEROS AUKLET 9. FORK-TAILED STORM PETREL 18. TUFTED PUFFIN

197

T h i s brings the t o t a l for a r e l a t i v e l y small s e c t i o n of western Oreoon to a minimum of 209, and as many as 231, f o r an average y e a r .

Another t r i a n g l e connecting Eugene, Bend and Klamath F a l l s can add an a d d i t i o n a l 50 s p e c i e s . S p e c i a l t i e s of the c e n t r a l Cascades i n c l u d e both THREE-TOED WOODPECKERS, HERMIT WARBLER, BARROW'S GOLDENEYE and the two Davis Lake a r e a s p e c i a l t i e s , AMERICAN REDSTART and NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH. The Klamath Basin can be an i n c r e d i b l e b i r d i n g e x p e r i e n c e . Here SNOW, WHITE-FRONTED and ROSS' GEESE can be e a s i l y found p a r t of the y e a r , and here a l s o i s one of only a few l o c a t i o n s to hunt the e l u s i v e GREAT GRAY OWL, one of the remaining f i v e owl s p e c i e s . Study of FLAMMULATED OWL n e s t i n g i n the s o u t h - c e n t r a l p a r t of the s t a t e i s underway, so t h i s s p e c i e s may a l s o be added to t h i s a r e a l i s t i n the f u t u r e .

I f one adds f i v e Medford s p e c i a l t i e s (PLAIN TITMOUSE, BROWN TOWHEE, BLACK PHOEBE, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER and POOR-WILL) a t o t a l of 55 more s p e c i e s i n c r e a s e s the p o t e n t i a l l i s t to a minimum 264 and maximum 286.

Southeastern Oregon, using Malheur as a c e n t e r of o p e r a t i o n s , can add another 24 s p e c i e s without a gr e a t d e a l of d i f f i c u l t y . These i n c l u d e :

1. WHITE-FACED I B I S 13. WHITE-THROATED SWIFT 2. TRUMPETER SWAN 14. BIACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD 3. SWAINSON'S HAWK 15. EASTERN KINGBIRD 4. ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK 16. WILLOW FLYCATCHER 5. FERRUGINOUS HAWK 17. GRAY FLYCATCHER 6. GOLDEN EAGLE 18. BANK SWALLOW 7. SAGE GROUSE 19. BOBOLINK 8. CHUKAR 20. BLACK ROSY FINCH 9. SANDHILL CRANE 21. VESPER SPARROW

10. FRANKLIN'S GULL 22. LARK SPARROW 11. LONG-EARED OWL 23. BLACK-THROATED SPARROW 12. COMMON NIGHTHAWK 24. BREWER'S SPARROW

FLAMMULATED and LONG-EARED OWLS are found i n h a b i t a t throughout e a s t e r n Oregon, w i t h the FLAMMULATED normally being r e p o r t e d from staked-out l o c a t i o n s . Revised t o t a l s are now between 289 and 311.

Northeastern Oregon, c e n t e r i n g around the La Grande a r e a , i s noted f o r the f o l l o w i n g nine s p e c i e s :

BOHEMIAN WAXWING PINE GROSBEAK GRAY-CROWNED ROSY FINCH TREE SPARROW

1. GRAY PARTRIDGE 6. 2. LEWIS' WOODPECKER 7. 3. BLUE JAY . 8. 4. GRAY CATBIRD 9. 5. VEERY

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T o t a l s now range from 29 8 to 320.

Once again i t should be emphasized t h a t many of these l i s t e d s p e c i e s can be found i n areas other than those s p e c i f i e d and sometimes much e a s i e r . However, my own p e r s o n a l success r a t e has been more c o n s i s t e n t w i t h i n the mentioned a r e a s .

Of the 320 s p e c i e s (maximum) remarked upon to t h i s p o i n t , I was able d u r i n g 1979 to l o c a t e only 10 of the p e l a g i c s and a l s o missed ANCIENT MURRELET, SOLITARY SANDPIPER, BLACK ROSY FINCH, GLAUCOUS GULL and YELLOW-BILLED LOON. My l i s t stood a t 313.

As many s p e c i e s are s e a s o n a l , s e v e r a l t r i p s may have to be made to the same a r e a , a time-consuming, expensive ( g a s ) , and o f t e n i m p r a c t i c a l t a s k . Should one f i n d most of these b i r d s , though, the stage has been s e t t o add more d i f f i c u l t Oregon b i r d s to the l i s t . A few a r e :

1. EMPEROR GOOSE 15. ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK 2. RED-SHOULDERED HAWK 16. COMMON REDPOLL 3. SPRUCE GROUSE 17. GRASSHOPPER SPARROW 4. UPLAND SANDPIPER 18. SWAMP SPARROW 5. BAR-TAILED GODWIT 19. TUFTED DUCK 6. HUDSONIAN GODWIT 20. GYRFALCON 7. RUFF 21. SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER 8. SNOWY OWL 22. COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD 9. BARRED OWL 23. BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD

10. BLACK SWIFT 24. HOODED ORIOLE 11. MOCKINGBIRD 25. INDIGO BUNTING 12. BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER 26. WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL 13. TENNESSEE WARBLER 27. BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW 14. CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER

Rare b i r d a l e r t s and good i n - s t a t e communication g i v e s one a chance a t the f i r s t 18 l i s t e d , w i t h the l a s t nine being q u i t e d i f f i c u l t to l o c a t e w i t h i n the s t a t e . A l l have been seen somewhere i n the s t a t e s i n c e 19 77. I remarked e a r l i e r t h a t I had managed to see 313 of the " e a s i e r " s t a t e s p e c i e s mentioned i n the g e o g r a p h i c a l accounts. The other 17 were those 13 u n d e r l i n e d above and MAGNOLIA WARBLER, BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER, DICKCISSEL and L I T T L E GULL.

I f e l t s t r o n g l y i n 1978 t h a t a ye a r l i s t of 323 could be improved upon, and f e e l the same about my 1979 t o t a l . Oregon i s e x p e r i e n c i n g a " b i r d i n g r e n a i s s a n c e " as f i e l d e x p e r t i s e i s n o t i c e a b l y i n c r e a s i n g throughout the s t a t e and g r e a t e r m o b i l i t y on the p a r t of Oregon b i r d e r s i s l e a d i n g to the d i s c o v e r y of e x c i t i n g vagrant t r a p s — P i k e Creek, Trout Creek, Mahogany Mountains, F i e l d s and Blue Sky, to name a few. S e v e r a l new s t a t e records have come from these areas i n the p a s t few y e a r s .

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Shorebird a r e a s are g e t t i n g b e t t e r f i e l d coverage than ever before, and improved communication networks a r e adding to our i n c r e a s i n g data on Oregon b i r d s . B e t t e r r e p o r t i n g of d e t a i l s becomes apparent from s i t e guides and the H i g h l i g h t s s e c t i o n i n OREGON BIRDS, l o c a l n e w s l e t t e r a r t i c l e s and the work of the Oregon B i r d Records Committee. The r e p o r t e d records which a i d our knowledge of r a r e and unusual s p e c i e s a l l o w us to d i s c e r n p a t t e r n s t h a t might not otherwise be n o t i c e d . We keep l e a r n i n g more about when and where to go a f t e r what.

More people i n the f i e l d and g r e a t e r i n t e r e s t i n b i r d i n g geographic l o c a l e s , as seen by the growing p o p u l a r i t y of county l i s t i n g , w i l l a l s o continue to a i d the a s p i r i n g y e a r or s t a t e l i s t e r . The p o t e n t i a l i s t h e r e , and t h e r e i s l i t t l e doubt t h a t an Oregon year l i s t of 330 w i l l soon be improved upon.

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Klamath Basin Bald Eagle Workshop: February 1980 Ralph Opp

What may have been the f i r s t annual BALD EAGLE workshop or conference i n Oregon was h e l d s u c c e s s f u l l y i n Klamath F a l l s February 22-24, 1980. The workshop was sponsored by Audubon S o c i e t i e s of Oregon, but very ably spearheaded by Mike Uhtoff of the P o r t l a n d Chapter. A s s i s t a n c e was provided by U.S. F i s h and W i l d l i f e S e r v i c e ' s Klamath B a s i n Refuges, Oregon Department of F i s h and W i l d l i f e , N a t i o n a l W i l d l i f e F e d e r a t i o n ' s Raptor Information Center, Oregon Cooperative W i l d l i f e Research Unit from OSU, U.S. Bureau of Land Management and o t h e r s .

The purpose of the workshop was to c r e a t e a b e t t e r awareness of BALD EAGLES i n Oregon and northern C a l i f o r n i a as w e l l as to understand the importance of the Klamath B a s i n area to BALD EAGLES, not only on a l o c a l s c a l e but a l s o from the n a t i o n a l and i n t e r n a t i o n a l l e v e l s . However, emphasis was given to w i n t e r i n g b i r d s . As we now know, the Klamath Basin ( s o u t h c e n t r a l Oregon and n o r t h c e n t r a l C a l i f o r n i a ) hosts an annual BALD EAGLE population of over 600 b i r d s from November through much of March. I t i s b e l i e v e d to be the l a r g e s t concentrated w i n t e r i n g eagle c o l l e c t i o n i n the 48 contiguous s t a t e s . C a l i f o r n i a and Oregon rank about f o u r t h and f i f t h among the other 48 s t a t e s i n w i n t e r i n g BALD EAGLE numbers. (T h i s i s based on annual counts sponsored by the N a t i o n a l W i l d l i f e F e d e r a t i o n during January of 1979 and 1980.)

Workshop t o p i c s i n c l u d e d : E a g l e s of the World, BALD EAGLES i n the Klamath B a s i n , BALD EAGLES i n Oregon w i t h emphasis on c u r r e n t r e s e a r c h , the Bear V a l l e y w i n t e r r o o s t - - i t s h i s t o r y and management, and a n a t i o n a l p e r s p e c t i v e of winter e a g l e r o o s t s . Speakers were from agencies and c o n s e r v a t i o n o r g a n i ­z a t i o n s around the P a c i f i c Northwest and the Washington D.C. o f f i c e of the N a t i o n a l W i l d l i f e F e d e r a t i o n . Numerous f i e l d t r i p s (guided and unguided) were held to observe the eagle r o o s t i n g area a t Bear V a l l e y , eagle feeding a r e a s , p l u s other l o c a l b i r d i n g a r e a s . A banquet and eagle f i l m f e s t i v a l a l s o helped to make the weekend work­shop a s u c c e s s .

I n t e r e s t i n the workshop was almost overwhelming i n t h a t 100 p a r t i c i p a n t s were hoped and planned f o r , but r e g i s t r a t i o n had to be c u r t a i l e d a t about 200

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because of l i m i t e d f a c i l i t y space. P a r t i c i p a n t s came from Oregon, Washington, C a l i f o r n i a , Idaho and from as f a r away as Colorado, Nevada and Montana. P a r t i c i p a n t s r e p r e s e n t e d many c o n s e r v a t i o n , p r i v a t e and agency i n t e r e s t s .

Many Klamath B a s i n r e s i d e n t s and b u s i n e s s people now b e t t e r recognize the importance and value of t h e i r a r e a to BALD EAGLES; h o p e f u l l y on a n a t i o n a l s c a l e as w e l l . P l a n s are underway f o r another w i n t e r i n g BALD EAGLE workshop i n the Klamath B a s i n d u r i n g February 1981. New and i n t e r e s t i n g t o p i c s are to be shared so 1980 p a r t i c i p a n t s and others can look forward to new e x p e r i e n c e s .

Listing, the Birder's Habit Terry Morgan

Most b i r d e r s keep l i s t s of one s o r t or another, ranging from a l i f e l i s t of the b i r d s they have seen to a c h e c k l i s t f o r each f i e l d t r i p . B i r d i n g has r i s e n to the s t a t u s of a s p o r t as w e l l as a c a s u a l pastime or an adjunct to s c i e n t i f i c data c o l l e c t i o n . (While l i s t i n g i s compatible with data c o l l e c t i o n , i t cannot be a s u b s t i t u t e f o r more complete forms of record k e e p i n g ) . I t i s the purpose of t h i s a r t i c l e to empha­s i z e the s p o r t i n g a s p e c t s of b i r d i n g and to encourage the p r a c t i c e of keeping Oregon l i s t s by providing a forum f o r comparative l i s t i n g . Oregon B i r d s w i l l p u b l i s s e l e c t i v e l i s t s of OFO members on an annual b a s i s , as d e s c r i b e d h e r e a f t e r .

The most common form of l i s t kept by b i r d e r s i s the North American l i f e l i s t ( g e n e r a l l y the area d e l i n e a t e d by the American B i r d i n g A s s o c i a t i o n , which i n c l u d e s North America north of the Mexican border but e x c l u d i n g Hawaii and the West I n d i e s ) . A more meaningful l i s t f o r the purposes of t h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n i s an Oregon l i f e l i s t Many a c t i v e b i r d e r s now a l s o keep an Oregon year l i s t , which i s a record of the b i r d s seen i n Oregon from January 1 to December 31. F i n a l l y , the p r a c t i c e of l i s t i n g the b i r d s seen i n each county i s coming i n t o vogue. Although the l a t t e r p r a c t i c e may seem somewhat a r b i t r a r y , i t has the advantage of educating the b i r d e r to d i f f e r e n t kinds of h a b i t a t i n each county. I n order to b u i l d a s i z e a b l e county l i s t , i t w i l l be n e c e s s a r y to v i s i t many h a b i t a t s during d i f f e r e n t seasons.

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What i s a r e s p e c t a b l e Oregon l i f e l i s t ? Reviewing the Oregon B i r d Records Committee review l i s t p u b l i s h e d i n Volume 6, No. 2 (1980) w i l l give you an idea; 413 b i r d s were l i s t e d as o c c u r r i n g i n the s t a t e , although not a l l have been documented and s e v e r a l o t h e r s not appearing on the l i s t have been reported t h i s year. An a s t e r i s k appearing next to the s p e c i e s name i n d i c a t e s that the b i r d i s of u n c e r t a i n s t a t u s i n the s t a t e and t h a t more documentation i s needed to determine what the s t a t u s i s . E l i m i n a t i n g these s p e c i e s l e a v e s a l i s t of 325 b i r d s . E v e n t u a l l y , w i t h enough y e a r s i n the f i e l d , a s e r i o u s b i r d e r should t e able to observe a l l 325 of th s p e c i e s whose s t a t u s i s known. In the p r o c e s s , many of the b i r d s of u n c e r t a i n s t a t u s w i l l be observed as w e l l .

I t w i l l take some time to b u i l d such a l i s t , depending on how a c t i v e you a r e . I have been i n the f i e l d a l o t i n the l a s t t h r e e y e a rs and I am s t i l l s h o r t 15 of the s p e c i e s which occur r e g u a l r l y (not n e c e s s a r i l y f r e q u e n t l y ) . On the other hand, I have p i c k e d up about 15 of the b i r d s i n the u n c e r t a i n s t a t u s category on the Records Committee review l i s t .

What about an annual Oregon l i s t ? S e v e r a l of us who have been holding an informal competition the l a s t few y e a r s have s e t an a r b i t r a r y f i g u r e of 300 b i r d s as a r e s p e c t a b l e annual l i s t . ( I can't get no r e s p e c t , s i n c e I have missed t h i s goal the l a s t two y e a r s and i t looks l i k e a t h i r d year i s coming up). The record i s 330 b i r d s s e t by Tad F i n n e l l i n 1979. To get t h i s number, i t i s n e c e s s a r y to v i s i t most of the major h a b i t a t s i n the S t a t e during a number of seasons through out the y e a r . (See " S p e c i e s T r a i l R e v i s i t e d " elsewhere i n t h i s i s s u e ) . While you are looking, you can begin to f i l l i n your county l i s t s .

Oregon B i r d s w i l l p u b l i s h the f o l l o w i n g l i s t s : North American l i f e l i s t ( t h r e s h o l d 500) ; Oregon l i f e l i s t ( t h r e s h o l d 275); Oregon year l i s t ( t h r e s h o l d 250); and the county l i f e l i s t s i n excess of 100 s p e c i e s . The purpose the f i r s t time around i s simply to encourage people to p a r t i c i p a t e . As more OFO members get i n t o the l i s t i n g h a b i t , the t h r e s h o l d s may have to be r a i s e d . The form which i s reproduced as an i n s e r t can be used to forward your l i s t s . Compile your l i s t s as of December 31, 1980 and r e t u r n them by January 31, 1981 to Oregon B i r d s : P.O. Box 10373 , Eugene, Oregon 97440.

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Letter

I was most s u r p r i s e d to open OREGON BIRDS, Vo l . 6, No. 1 and f i n d an a r t i c l e based on a workshop I gave on g u l l s a t the February convention i n Eugene ("Notes from Don Roberson's G u l l Workshop"). While I am f l a t t e r e d t h a t there was the i n t e r e s t i n the s u b j e c t to do such an a r t i c l e , I f i n d myself compelled to w r i t e and c o r r e c t a number of e r r o r s , e s p e c i a l l y s i n c e the i n f o r m a t i o n i s s a i d to have come from my t a l k . As those i n attendance w i l l a t t e s t , my t a l k was given i n an i n f o r m a l , workshop manner, mostly i n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h s l i d e s . As such, i t was organized more around the s l i d e arrangement than a cohesive w r i t t e n o u t l i n e . The a r t i c l e i s not arranged i n the manner I would p r e s e n t a w r i t t e n d i s c u s s i o n of g u l l i d e n t i f i c a t i o n ( I cannot be tempted i n t o doing t h a t u n t i l my c u r r e n t book p r o j e c t i s f i n i s h e d ) , but t h a t i s not a major problem. However, there are m i s l e a d i n g and i n a c c u r a t e statements i n the a r t i c l e which should be c o r r e c t e d .

One point I wished to emphasize during the t a l k i s t h a t the observer should f i r s t attempt to age a g u l l before attempting to i d e n t i f y i t to s p e c i e s . Large g u l l s take four years to r e a c h maturity. There i s a complete molt i n the f a l l (both body and wing f e a t h e r s are r e p l a c e d ) and a p a r t i a l molt occurs i n the s p r i n g (only body f e a t h e r s r e p l a c e d ) . For the purposes of the t a l k , we d i s c u s s e d only the ageing and i d e n t i f i c a t i o n of g u l l s during the winter ( e s p e c i a l l y November - March) and l a b e l l e d them f i r s t - y e a r , second-year, e t c . T h i s i s not an e n t i r e l y a c c u r a t e d e s c r i p t i o n of the s i t u a t i o n . G u l l s molt twice a y e a r , so the sequence goes from j u v e n i l e ( f i r s t f l y i n g plumage, not d i s c u s s e d ) to f i r s t - w i n t e r ( c a l l e d f i r s t - y e a r i n the t a l k and the a r t i c l e ) to first-summer ( a f t e r the s p r i n g molt, t h i s plumage not d i s c u s s e d i n the t a l k ) , thence on to second-winter ( l a b e l l e d second-year h e r e ) , e t c . , e t c . With t h a t i n mind, l a r g e g u l l s i n winter can u s u a l l y be aged by the f o l l o w i n g method:

F i r s t - w i n t e r : Mostly brown plumage, i n c l u d i n g back and wing c o v e r t s . B i l l dark ( u s u a l l y ) or d i s ­t i n c t l y b i c o l o r e d (GLAUCOUS and CALIFORNIA GULLS).

Second-winter: White head and underparts, gray back, brown wing c o v e r t s , dark t a i l .

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T h i r d - w i n t e r : White head and underparts, gray back, gray wing c o v e r t s , b l a c k p r i m a r i e s without white s p o t s , white t a i l w i t h t a i l b a n d .

F o u r t h - w i n ter and A d u l t s : White head and under­p a r t s , gray back, gray wing c o v e r t s , b l a c k p r i m a r i e s w i t h white spots, a l l white t a i l .

Even t h i s b r i e f d e s c r i p t i o n does not cover a l l c a s e s , nor does i t cover e x a c t l y GLAUCOUS and GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS (which have gray or white p r i m a r i e s during the t h i r d and f o u r t h - w i n t e r , and pale p r i m a r i e s p r i o r to those y e a r s ) . I n a d d i t i o n , the s o f t p a r t c o l o r i s changing through the y e a r s . The b i l l u s u a l l y l i g h t e n s from the base during the second-winter, becomes mostly yellow w i t h an i r r e g u l a r band around the end near the t i p during the t h i r d -w i n t e r , and yellow w i t h the p a t t e r n f o r the s p e c i e s shown by f i e l d guides (red spot, red and b l a c k spot, et c . ) by f o u r t h - w i n t e r . Meanwhile the l e g s are changing, as i s the eye. Both are c o l o r e d as the a d u l t by the t h i r d - w i n t e r ; many l i g h t eyes appear by second-winter.

With b r i e f i n t r o d u c t i o n , l e t us look through the a r t i c l e . I n paragraph two, there i s no need to s p e c i a l l y separate out the CALIFORNIA GULL as being p a r t i c u l a r l y s m a l l ; i t i s separated out only because i t i s the only f o u r t h - y e a r g u l l we cover which does not have pink legs as an a d u l t (they range from y e l l o w i s h to green-gray). CALIFORNIA and THAYER'S GULLS a r e s i m i l a r i n s i z e (but r e c a l l t h a t sexes of g u l l s d i f f e r i n s i z e , females being l a r g e r , so t h a t t h e r e i s overlap among s e v e r a l s p e c i e s and s i z e i s only a p r e l i m i n a r y c h a r a c t e r to s e p a r a t e a WESTERN GULL (l a r g e ) from say, a MEW GULL ( s m a l l ) .

On the diagram, #2 should read underparts (and i n the case of ageing was used to d e s c r i b e the c o l o r of the head, neck, b r e a s t , b e l l y and u n d e r t a i l c o v e r t s ) , "underside", when used a t a l l , r e f e r s to the v e n t r a l s u r f a c e of the p r i m a r i e s . #5 should read "white spots on t i p s of p r i m a r i e s " , " m i r r o r s " i s a confusing term perpetuated by f i e l d g uides.

Beyond these paragraphs, I s h a l l c o r r e c t a few remarks by the t i t l e of the paragraph:

F i r s t - y e a r : B i l l i s e n t i r e l y b l a c k , except for GLAUCOUS and CALIFORNIA GULLS, which have s h a r p l y demarcated pink bases to the b i l l and b l a c k t i p s . P r i m a r i e s are l i g h t e r (pale tan to w h i t i s h i n f i r s t - w i n t e r GLAUCOUS, GLAUCOUS-WINGED and some THAYER'S GULLS.

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Second-year: The impression i s given t h a t t h i s plumage i s a t t a i n e d by feathers "becoming gray" or underparts "developing a w h i t i s h hue". T h i s i s not the case. The back i s gray i n second-winter plumage and the underparts are white as a r e s u l t of molt, not gradual wear. (Wear can a f f e c t the c o l o r of plumages, e s p e c i a l l y i n s p r i n g and summer, but t h i s i s a complex problem and not d e a l t with here.)

T h i r d - y e a r : The wingtips (except, of course, i n GLAUCOUS and GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS) are black, not "develop more b l a c k than brown". More emphasis should be p l a c e d on the f a c t t h a t a t h i r d - w i n t e r b i r d looks l i k e an a d u l t , except f o r (1) a t a i l b a n d or p a r t i a l band, (2) l a c k or reduced white spots i n t i p s of p r i m a r i e s , and (3) a dark smudge or r i n g on the b i l l .

Moving to the d i s c u s s i o n of f i r s t - y e a r b i r d s , the notes p r i n t e d are f a i r l y a c c u r a t e , but could be a b i t c l e a r e r . Once you have aged a g u l l as a l a r g e f i r s t - w i n t e r g u l l , they are d i s t i n g u i s h e d ( u s u a l l y ) i n t h i s manner:

(1) Dark p r i m a r i e s , s h a r p l y b i c o l o r e d b i l l = CALIFORNIA GULL.

(2) Dark p r i m a r i e s , a l l dark b i l l (or only s l i g h t l y pale a t base) =

(a) heavy b i l l , dark e a r c o v e r t s , head u n i c o l o r w i t h body = WESTERN GULL; or

(b) long b i l l without pronounced gonydeal angle, p a l e e a r c o v e r t s , head p a l e r than body = HERRING GULL.

(3) Pale or white p r i m a r i e s , sharply b i c o l o r e d b i l l = GLAUCOUS GULL

(4) Pale p r i m a r i e s , dark b i l l =

(a) l a r g e s i z e , heavy b i l l , evenly mottled t a i l = GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL; or

(b) s m a l l e r s i z e , s h o r t e r s l i m b i l l , t a i l -band e f f e c t = THAYER'S GULL.

Moving to the d i s c u s s i o n of a d u l t g u l l s , most are e a s i l y i d e n t i f i e d by noting a combination of back c o l o r , b i l l p a t t e r n and wingtip p a t t e r n . Using WESTERN GULL as a standard r e f e r e n c e for "dark gray", a d u l t g u l l s can be separated and i d e n t i f i e d i n the f o l l o w i n g groups (note t h a t the r a c e of WESTERN GULL i n Oregon has a l i g h t e r gray back than p i c t u r e d i n

206

your f i e l d guides, which, i n c i d e n t a l l y , do not show the obvious d i f f e r e n c e s i n back c o l o r ) :

Dark gray back WESTERN GULL - red spot on b i l l , dark gray back merges i n t o black w i n g t i p s , other marks as noted i n the a r t i c l e

Medium gray back CALIFORNIA GULL - red and b l a c k spot on b i l l , y ellow or greenish-gray l e g s .

GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL, red spot on b i l l , p r i m a r i e s l i g h t e r than wing c o v e r t s (opposite of WESTERN GULL). Adult GLAUCOUS, which i s extremely r a r e as an a d u l t i n Oregon, was not covered i n t h i s p a r t .

MEW GULL - (not covered here) but unmarked b i l l (or black smudge i n w i n t e r ) , very prominent white spots on p r i m a r i e s , t i n y s i z e and very s l i m b i l l .

L i g h t gray back HERRING GULL - red spot on b i l l , black on t i p s of p r i m a r i e s from above and below, yellow eye, long b i l l .

THAYER'S GULL - red spot on b i l l ( a r t i c l e i s i n c o r r e c t ) , reduced black on p r i m a r i e s from above (not l a c k i n g as a r t i c l e s a y s ) , no black apparent on p r i m a r i e s from below (looks l i k e the under-wings of GLAUCOUS-WINGED), s h o r t b i l l , dark ( u s u a l l y ) eye.

RING-BILLED GULL - r i n g on b i l l , y e l l o w i s h l e g s , black wedge on p r i m a r i e s from above and below.

T h i s summary i s very b r i e f , but should help to i d e n t i f y a number of g u l l s more e a s i l y . The problem i s complex, but not h o p e l e s s . One would want to supplement these very b r i e f notes w i t h f i e l d obser­v a t i o n s and an understanding of the d i s t r i b u t i o n of the s p e c i e s (WESTERN, f o r example, are seldom found f a r from the c o a s t ) .

207

I was glad to see i n " l e t t e r s to the e d i t o r " an enthusiasm f o r g u l l watching, which was a l s o apparent during my v i s i t to the north. And i t c e r t a i n l y i s not a bad idea to p u b l i s h notes based on l e c t u r e s attended. But p l e a s e , i n the f u t u r e , send the manuscript to the l e c t u r e r for permission to p u b l i s h and c o r r e c t i o n s before p u b l i c a t i o n . I t w i l l h e l p prevent the e r r o r s i n t h i s a r t i c l e (very understandably made, s i n c e a l l the note t a k i n g was done i n a dark room w h i l e t r y i n g t o watch s l i d e s and w r i t e , a l l a t the same t i m e ) , and i t w i l l make l e t t e r s l i k e t h i s unnecessary.

Don Roberson 1141 Lighthouse #421 P a c i f i c Grove, CA 93950

Short Notes

MALHEUR REFUGE MASTER PLAN

The following reprint from "The Chat", No. 84, October, 1980, page 3, i s a note taken from "Audubon Conservation Topics - West". "The Chat" i s the newsletter of the Rogue Valley Audubon Chapter.

Considered by many the crown j e w e l of the refuge system i n the west, Malheur National W i l d l i f e Refuge i s the s u b j e c t of a comprehensive planning process which w i l l o u t l i n e long range management s t r a t e g i e s . Due f o r com­p l e t i o n i n December 1980, the Malheur Master P l a n w i l l provide the b a s i s or guide f o r development of the more d e t a i l e d management programs t h a t d e a l with day to day operation of the refuge.

Located i n the w i l d l i f e r i c h a r e a of e a s t e r n Oregon near the community of Burns, Malheur i s p r i z e d as a breeding a r e a f o r waterfowl i n c l u d i n g TRUMPETER SWAN and such important migratory s p e c i e s as Gr e a t e r SANDHILL CRANE, WHITE-FACED I B I S , LONG-BILLED CURLEW, and SNOWY PLOVER.

Malheur has faced many problems i n i t s h i s t o r y i n c l u d i n g c a t t l e g r a z i n g which v i r t u a l l y e l i m i n a t e d the r e f u g e ' s breeding p o t e n t i a l f o r many s p e c i e s . While g r a z i n g management on the refuge has improved, f u r t h e r p r o t e c t i o n w r i t t e n i n t o the Master Plan w i l l be necessary to avoid f u t u r e p r e s s u r e s to put the needs of cows above the needs of w i l d l i f e .

208

Short Notes

OREGON'S NONGAME WILDLIFE FUND

T h i s year, Oregon taxpayers w i l l again have the chance to "Do Something Wild" f o r Oregon's nongame w i l d l i f e .

The nongame tax checkoff program, adopted by the 1979 l e g i s l a t u r e , to help preserve and p r o t e c t non-game w i l d l i f e was a bi g success during the l a s t tax year and promises to be even b e t t e r t h i s y e a r . Oregonians c o n t r i b u t e d more than $337,000 of t h e i r 1979 s t a t e tax refunds to the program.

The donations came through l i n e s on the s t a t e tax form t h a t allowed t a x p a y e r s , f i l i n g j o i n t l y or s e p a r a t e l y , to check o f f $1, $3, or $5 of t h e i r refund to be forwarded to the nongame w i l d l i f e fund.

U n t i l t h i s year, the Oregon Department of F i s h and Wild­l i f e administered a s m a l l nongame program financed e n t i r e l y by hunting and f i s h i n g l i c e n s e revenues. With the advent of the tax checkoff, a l l Oregonians w i l l have a chance to c o n t r i b u t e to the proper management of Oregon's nonhunted s p e c i e s .

Taxpayers and tax p r e p a r e r s are reminded t h a t persons f i l i n g j o i n t l y may each c o n t r i b u t e on separate l i n e s . A l s o, persons who are not r e c e i v i n g refunds, but would s t i l l wish to c o n t r i b u t e may mark an "X" i n the donation box and overpay t h e i r t a x e s i n t h a t amount. The exc e s s payment w i l l be c r e d i t e d to the nongame w i l d l i f e fund i f a donation box i s c l e a r l y marked.

C o n t r i b u t o r s should not w r i t e - i n amounts d i f f e r e n t from the t h r e e options given on the checkoff l i n e s . L a s t year many r e t u r n s had to be sent back because of improper marking i n the checkoff boxes.

209

Short Notes NOMINATIONS FOR OFO BOARD POSITIONS

Under A r t i c l e I V o f t h e Oregon F i e l d O r n i t h o l o g i s t s ' Bylaws, t h e o f f i c e r s o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n - P r e s i d e n t , S e c r e t a r y and T r e a s u r e r - are e l e c t e d t o a one y e a r term commencing a t t h e c o n c l u s i o n o f t h e annual m e e t i n g . W h i l e d i r e c t o r s under A r t i c l e V a r e e l e c t e d f o r two ye a r s on a s t a g g e r e d b a s i s , two d i r e c t o r s h i p s w i l l e x p i r e a t t h e 1981 annual m e e t i n g i n o r d e r t o s e t t h e s t a g g e r e d t e r m system i n m o t i o n . C o n s e q u e n t l y , f i v e members o f t h e Board o f D i r e c t o r s w i l l have t h e i r terms e x p i r e a t t h e t i m e o f t h e a n n u a l m e e t i n g . ( O f f i c e r s can be r e ­e l e c t e d , b u t t o no more t h a n t h r e e c o n s e c u t i v e t e r m s i n any o f f i c e ; d i r e c t o r s can be r e e l e c t e d t o no more t h a n two c o n s e c u t i v e t e r m s ) . N o m i n a t i o n s f o r t h e s e p o s i t i o n s a r e now open. The nominee must be a member o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n . Please s p e c i f y which p o s i t i o n t h e c a n d i d a t e i s b e i n g nominated f o r . Send a l l n o m i n a t i o n s t o T e r r y Morgan, 2111 NE 43rd Avenue, P o r t l a n d , Oregon 97213.

BIBLIOGRAPHY AVAILABLE

Oregon F i e l d O r n i t h o l o g i s t s ' f i r s t s p e c i a l p u b l i c a t i o n , " B i b l i o g r a p h y of Oregon O r n i t h o l o g y : An U p d a t i n g f o r t h e Years 1971-1977, w i t h a Revised, Cross-Referenced L i s t of t h e B i r d s of Oregon" by Mark Egger i s now a v a i l a b l e . T h i s work w h i c h updates t h e 1935-1970 b i b l i o g r a p h y by J . M. Sc o t t e t a l . can be purchased f o r $3.00 from OFO, P.O. Box 10373, Eugene, Oregon 97440. The p r i c e i n c l u d e s h a n d l i n g and p o s t a g e c o s t s . S e r i o u s students of Oregon's b i r d s w i l l want to o b t a i n a copy which i n c l u d e s 471 r e f e r e n c e s with a 19 page s p e c i e s c r o s s - i n d e x to the re f e r e n c e d works.

PORTLAND AUDUBON HAWAII TRIP

P o r t l a n d Audubon i s s p o n s e r i n g a 15 day b i r d i n g and n a t u r a l h i s t o r y f i e l d t r i p t o t h e i s l a n d s o f K a u a i , Maui, H a w a i i and Oahu i n mid May. The emphasis w i l l be on endemic b i r d s p e c i e s , and t h e t r i p w i l l i n c l u d e h i k i n g on t h e i s l a n d s t o v i s i t v a r i o u s h a b i t a t s f r o m r a i n f o r e s t s t o b a r r e n l a v a f l o w s . The t r i p i s l i m i t e d t o 7 per s o n s and t h e e s t i m a t e d $1,330.00 c o s t i n c l u d e s l o d g i n g (based on d o uble o c c u p a n c y ) , t r a n s p o r t a t i o n t o and f r o m H a w a i i f r o m P o r t l a n d , and ground t r a n s p o r t a t i o n on each i s l a n d . To r e s e r v e a space a $250.00 d e p o s i t i s r e q u i r e d ($50.00 i s a n o n - r e f u n d a b l e h a n d l i n g f e e ) w i t h t h e b a l a n c e due by March 15. A l l Checks s h o u l d be made o u t t o P o r t l a n d Audubon S o c i e t y and m a i l e d t o t h e t r i p l e a d e r . Q u e s t i o n s can be answered by t r i p l e a d e r , D a v i d Anderson, 640 SE 2 7 t h , P o r t l a n d OR 97214 (235-0338 home phone) o r S c o t t o r Debra a t Azumano T r a v e l , SW 4 t h & S t a r k , P o r t l a n d (223-6245).

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Short Notes

1981 OFO MEMBERSHIPS DUE

I t i s t i m e t o pay y o u r 1981 Oregon F i e l d O r n i t h o l o g i s t s ' dues. You may w i s h t o c o n s i d e r p u r c h a s i n g a , g i f t member­s h i p f o r a b i r d i n g f r i e n d . The Board o f D i r e c t o r s has d e c i d e d t o m a i n t a i n t h e same membership c l a s s e s and dues s t r u c t u r e as 1980. . . a b a r g a i n i n i n f l a t i o a r y t i m e s !

I n d i v i d u a l - 1 v o t e - $ 7.00 F a m i l y - 2 v o t e s - $11.00 I n d i v i d u a l S u s t a i n i n g - 1 v o t e - $15.00 F a m i l y S u s t a i n i n g - 2 v o t e s - $15.00

Membership i n any c a t e g o r y enables you t o r e c e i v e OREGON BIRDS. Don't miss 1981 i s s u e s o f Volume 7 as OREGON BIRDS c o n t i n u e s t o im p r o v e . Your membership a l s o h e l p s s u p p o r t t h e Oregon B i r d Records Committee and OFO's i n v o l v e m e n t i n o r n i t h o l o g i c a l p r o j e c t s and s p e c i a l p u b l i c a t i o n s ; t h i s i s e s p e c i a l l y t r u e f o r s u s t a i n i n g memberships. Please j o i n OFO i n i t s second year by f i l l i n g i n t h e membership a p p l i c a t i o n i n s e r t o r by send­i n g y o u r dues t o : OFO, P.O. Box 10373, Eugene, Oregon 97440.

OFO ANNUAL MEETING

The 1981 Annual M e e t i n g o f Oregon F i e l d O r n i t h o l o g i s t s w i l l be h ? l d on A p r i l 4-5, 1981 i n Newport, Oregon. Be sure t o mark t h i s e v e n t on your c a l e n d a r and p l a n t o a t t e n d . Workshops, p r e s e n t a t i o n s , f i e l d t r i p s i n c l u d i n g a p o s s i b l e s p r i n g p e l a g i c t r i p (See i n s e r t ) , a banquet, e l e c t i o n o f OFO O f f i c e r s , and a chance t o s o c i a l i z e w i t h I o t h e r Oregon f i e l d o r n i t h o l o g i s t s make t h i s event a h i g h - I l i g h t f o r Oregon's b i r d e r s . |

Meetings w i l l be c o n d u c t e d a t t h e OSU M a r i n e Science Center' and a t t h e new Newport H i l t o n . More d e t a i l s on t h e meet- I i n g w i l l be p r o v i d e d i n a s p e c i a l m a i l i n g o r t h e f i r s t | 1981 i s s u e o f OREGON BIRDS. For more d i s c u s s i o n on t h e I p r e l i m i n a r y d e t a i l s r e f e r t o " P r e s i d e n t ' s Message" e l s e - . where i n t h i s i s s u e . " '

I f you a r e s e r i o u s l y i n t e r e s t e d o r d e f i n i t e l y p l a n t o | a t t e n d t h e A p r i l 4 and 5 Annual M e e t i n g , p l e a s e f i l l i n i and send us t h e Annual M e e t i n g i n s e r t . We need t o know how many people t o e x p e c t as p l a n n i n g p r o g r e s s e s f o r t h e ' me e t i n g . | • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • I

211

Short Notes

1981 AUDUBON BALD EAGLE CONFERENCE

For t h e second c o n s e c u t i v e y e a r , s e v e r a l Oregon Audubon Chapters a r e s p o n s o r i n g a B a l d Eagle Conference i n Klamath F a l l s . A l t h o u g h a l l t h e d e t a i l s a r e n o t com­p l e t e , you s h o u l d mark your c a l e n d a r f o r F r i d a y , F e b r u a r y 1 3 t h t h r o u g h Sunday t h e 1 5 t h . T h i s y e a r t h e P o r t l a n d , Lane County, Rogue V a l l e y and Salem Chapters a r e s u p p o r t i n g t h e Conference w i t h a s s i s t a n c e f r o m Ralph Opp, ODF&W, and Bob F i e l d s , USF&WS's Manager o f t h e Klamath B a s i n NWR System. The p r e l i m i n a r y program l o o k s e x c i t i n g :

1. A week l o n g a r t d i s p l a y a t t h e Klamath County Museum w i t h works on l o a n f r o m t h e S m i t h s o n i a n .

2. Mid-week agency workshops on r a p t o r management.

3. S a t u r d a y p o s s i b l e p r e s e n t a t i o n s i n c l u d e :

A. " B i r d s o f Prey o f t h e West" by Cla y W h i t e o f B.Y.U.

B. " W i n t e r i n g Eagles i n A l a s k a " by Dave C l i n e o f N a t i o n a l Audubon.

C. " R e s u l t s o f t h e N a t i o n - w i d e M i d - w i n t e r B a l d Eagle Survey" by B i l l C l a r k o f N a t i o n a l W i l d l i f e F e d e r a t i o n ' s R a p t o r I n f o r m a t i o n C e n t e r .

D. "B a l d Eagle R e i n t r o d u c t i o n Programs: C a l i f o r n i a ' s Channel I s l a n d s and Maine".

4. S a t u r d a y e v e n i n g b a n q u e t .

5. Sunday f i e l d t r i p s t o Klamath Basin B a l d Eagle f e e d i n g areas and t h e Bear V a l l e y r o o s t .

T h i s y e a r ' s c o n f e r e n c e w i l l be h e l d on t h e OTI campus. I n t e r e s t e d persons s h o u l d c o n t a c t Mike U t h o f f , c/o P o r t l a n d Audubon S o c i e t y , 5151 NW C o r n e l l Rd., P o r t l a n d , Oregon 97210 f o r more d e t a i l s . I t would be b o t h c o u r t e o u s and a d v i s a b l e t o p r e r e g i s t e r f o r t h i s c o n f e r ­ence o f n a t i o n a l i m p o r t a n c e .

212

Short Notes

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR 3RD ANNUAL MID-WINTER BALD EAGLE SURVEY

The N a t i o n a l W i l d l i f e F e d e r a t i o n ' s 3 r d Annual M i d - W i n t e r BALD EAGLE Survey i s sche d u l e d f o r J a n u a r y 2-16, 1981. Ralph Opp, Oregon s t a t e w i d e c o o r d i n a t o r , i s s o l i c i t i n g h e l p f r o m Oregon F i e l d O r n i t h o l o g i s t s members. S p e c i a l emphasis w i l l be p l a c e d on f i e l d i n v e n t o r i e s on F r i d a y , J a n u a r y 9 and S a t u r d a y , January 10.

The p urposes o f t h e M i d - W i n t e r BALD EAGLE Survey a r e t o b u i l d an i n d e x system and c o n t i n u e t o d e v e l o p a s a m p l i n g scheme f o r i n v e n t o r y i n g w i n t e r i n g BALD EAGLE p o p u l a t i o n s . The s u r v e y r e s u l t s s h o u l d l e a d t o b e t t e r i n f o r m a t i o n on w i n t e r i n g a r e a s , h a b i t a t s , and w i n t e r i n g BALD EAGLE move­ments. V o l u n t e e r s a r e p a r t i c u l a r y needed i n p l a c e s where p o p u l a t i o n s are d i s p e r s e d . These s c a t t e r e d s i t u a t i o n s s e r v e an i m p o r t a n t r o l e i n t h e o v e r a l l w i n t e r i n g s t a t u s o f BALD EAGLES. The low d e n s i t y d i s p e r s a l a l s o r e q u i r e s a l o t o f h e l p .

I f you a r e i n t e r e s t e d i n p a r t i c i p a t i n g , c o n t a c t t h e r e g i o n a l c o o r d i n a t o r n e a r e s t y ou:

C h a r l e s Bruce ' ODF&W, NW R e g i o n a l O f f i c e Rt. 5, Box 325 C o r v a l l i s 97330 757-4186

J i m C o l l i n s ODF&W, SW R e g i o n a l O f f i c e 3140 NE Stephens Roseburg 97470 440-3353

Ron Rohweder ODF&W, NE R e g i o n a l O f f i c e Rt. 2, Box 2283 LaGrande 97850

OREGON NEST RECORDS COMMITTEE

As suggested by M. S. " E l z y " E l t z r o t h (Oregon B i r d s 6 ( 2 ) : 5 8 - 5 9 ) a committee i s f o r m i n g t o s t a r t an Oregon n e s t r e c o r d program. The p r i m a r y g o a l o f t h e committee i s t o c o l l e c t i n f o r m a t i o n on t h e r e p r o d u c t i v e s t a t u s and success o f Oregon b i r d s . T h i s i n f o r m a t i o n w i l l t h e n be made a v a i l a b l e t o i n t e r e s t e d groups and a g e n c i e s . I n t e r e s t e d i n h e l p i n g ? C o n t a c t : Dave Werschkul; K a l m i o p s i s F i e l d S t a t i o n ; S t a r Rt. Box 87; Agness, OR 97406. Those o f you w i t h i d e a s , b u t w i t h o u t t i m e , can h e l p by s h a r i n g them w i t h t h e n e s t r e c o r d s committee.

Cal G i e s l e r ODF&W, SE R e g i o n a l O f f i c e Box 8 Hines 97738 573-6582

Ralph Opp ( S t a t e C o o r d i n a t o r ) ODF&W, C e n t r a l Region

and Klamath Basin 4343 M i l l e r I s l a n d Road Klamath F a l l s 97601 883-5732

213

President's Message M.S. "Elzy" Eltzroth

My a p o l o g i e s t o anyone who m i g h t have been i n t e r e s t e d i n r e s p o n d i n g t o t h e Oregon/Washington I n t e r a g e n c y W i l d l i f e Committee by t h e suspense d a t e shown i n t h e l a s t p r e s i d e n t ' s message. We d i d r e c e i v e a 30 day e x t e n s i o n b u t , a l a s , i t a r r i v e d t o o l a t e t o g e t i n t o OB a l s o ! Old Murphy's Law a g a i n ! However, o u r o r g a n i z a t i o n seems t o be g e t t i n g f a v o r a b l e response from t h e v a r i o u s p u b l i c l a n d a g e n c i e s so t h e r e s h o u l d be o t h e r o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r i n p u t f r o m our membership.

I n case you marked your c a l e n d a r f o r t h e n e x t annual m e e t i n g on 25 A p r i l , 1981 - pl e a s e change t h a t t o 4 and 5 A p r i l . We became aware o f two c o n f l i c t s w h i c h would a f f e c t some o f o u r members: 1) The n a t i o n ­wide Audubon B i r d a t h o n i s s c h e d u l e d f o r 25-26 A p r i l ; 2) P o r t l a n d Audubon i s s p o n s o r i n g a Texas t r i p , 18 A p r i l t o 3 May. There i s no way we can a v o i d c o n f l i c t ­i n g w i t h s o m e t h i n g , b u t we hope t h a t whatever i t i s -i t won't t a k e away as many o f o u r members as t h o s e two ev e n t s .

We a r e e x p l o r i n g s e v e r a l i d e a s t o keep t h e n e x t annual m e e t i n g on a par w i t h l a s t y e a r ' s . Our Newport and C o r v a l l i s committee has r e s e r v e d t h e a u d i t o r i u m and a -large m e e t i n g room a t t h e M a r i n e Science C e n t e r ; and banquet room, no h o s t bar and s t e a k d i n n e r a t t h e Newport H i l t o n f o r Saturday. Costs f o r t h e d i n n e r and evening program s h o u l d n o t exceed $15 s i n g l e , $25 do u b l e . We're a l s o p l a n n i n g an a f t e r n o o n speaker/workshops and p o s s i b l y a s p l i t s e s s i o n f o r r e s e a r c h papers. C o n s i d ­e r a b l e i n t e r e s t has been e x p r e s s e d i n a p e l a g i c t r i p on Sunday t h e 5 t h . I t i s g e n e r a l l y chancy t h a t t h e weather w i l l c o o p e r a t e i n e a r l y A p r i l , b u t Range Bayer has a l r e a d y l o o k e d i n t o t h e d e t a i l s o f c h a r t e r i n g a bo a t . (See i n s e r t i n t h i s i s s u e and r e t u r n i t t o me im m e d i a t e l y i f you are i n t e r e s t e d ) . There w i l l be l o c a l f i e l d t r i p s b o t h days i n any case. W e ' l l l e t you know about o t h e r o p t i o n s i n t h e n e x t i s s u e . I f you have any i d e a s o f what we s h o u l d do o r how - i t i s n ' t t o o l a t e t o l e t us know.

We a r e happy t o announce t h a t Dr. David F. Werschkul K a l m i o p s i s F i e l d S t a t i o n , Agness, has v o l u n t e e r e d t o o r g a n i z e a n e s t r e c o r d program f o r t h e s t a t e , (see s h o r t n o t e elsewhere i n t h i s i s s u e ) T h i s s h o u l d a i d i n t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f Dr. Kerb Wisner's Breeding B i r d A t l a s (see OB 6:69). B o t h men would l i k e t o hear f r o m you who are i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e i r p r o p o s a l s .

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P o r t l a n d Audubon S o c i e t y has a p p o i n t e d a committee c o n s i s t i n g o f J e f f G i l l i g a n , c h a i r m a n ; D a v i d I r o n s , Owen Schmidt and Mark Smith o r g a n i z e and c o o r d i n a t e w r i t i n g a book on t h e s t a t u s , d i s t r i b u t i o n and season­a l i t y o f t h e b i r d s o f Oregon. OFO members w i l l be asked t o a s s i s t s p e c i f i c a l l y and o u r r e c o r d s w i l l be made a v a i l a b l e t o t h e committee. P o r t l a n d Audubon has f i r s t o p t i o n t o p u b l i s h t h e book - and p r o f i t s , i f any, w i l l be sha r e d a t t h e r a t e o f 80% f o r PAS and 20% f o r OFO. There w i l l be no r e m u n e r a t i o n f o r t h e com m i t t e e , e d i t o r s , o r a u t h o r s a l t h o u g h reimbursement o f approved expenses w i l l be a u t h o r i z e d .

Our s i n c e r e t h a n k s t o members Martha S c h m i t t f o r her i n d e x t o Volumes 3-5 (OB 6:136); E.G. W h i t e - S w i f t f o r h i s i n d e x t o t h e f i r s t two volumes (OB 6:156); and Mark Egger f o r h i s work w h i c h r e s u l t e d i n o u r f i r s t s p e c i a l p u b l i c a t i o n - a b i b l i o g r a p h y o f Oregon b i r d l i t e r a t u r e , 1971-1977. (see s h o r t n o t e elsewhere i n t h i s i s s u e ) . A l l o f t h e above s h o u l d be e x t r e m e l y h e l p f u l t o s t u d e n t s o f Oregon's b i r d s !

Editor's Note

On b e h a l f o f a l l t h o s e who have worked on and c o n t r i b ­u t e d t o OREGON BIRDS i n 1980, we hope you've e n j o y e d V o l ­ume 6 as much as we've e n j o y e d p r e p a r i n g i t . I n 1979 we p r i n t e d 176 pages and t h i s y ear we p u b l i s h e d about 220 pages. I n 1980 w i t h o u r new reduced p r i n t f o r m a t , we p r i n t e d t h e e q u i v a l e n t o f 325 pages o f 1979 m a t e r i a l ; a l m o s t t w i c e t h e volume.

The OFO Board has been v e r y s u p p o r t i v e o f OREGON BIRDS, and we p l a n t o work c l o s e l y w i t h t h e Board n e x t y e a r on d e v e l o p i n g a more f o r m a l p o l i c y f o r o u r p u b l i c a t i o n . W i t h ­o u t t h e s u p p o r t and c o o p e r a t i o n o f t h e Board and s u p p o r t o f OFO by t h e membership, we would n o t have been a b l e t o p r o v i d e t h e improved p u b l i c a t i o n t o o u r more t h a n 2 00 mem­bers .

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The q u a l i t y as w e l l as the q u a n t i t y of m a t e r i a l has been e x c e l l e n t due to the c o n t r i b u t i o n s of many authors. We hope you've enjoyed the s i t e guides and the a r t i c l e s on i d e n t i f i c a t i o n and s t a t u s of Oregon's b i r d s . We've c o n t i n ­ued r e g u l a r f e a t u r e s such as the Christmas B i r d Count pre­views, the e a r l y , u n o f f i c i a l Oregon CBC r e s u l t s , and high­l i g h t s from the f i e l d notes. Major accomplishments included p u b l i c a t i o n of the Oregon B i r d Records Committee h i s t o r i c a l a c t i o n s and review l i s t , and i n d i c e s to Volumes 1-5. We have i n s t i t u t e d a " s h o r t notes" s e c t i o n as a r e g u l a r f e a t u r e and we hope to continue a p e r i o d i c review of r e c e n t l i t e r a ­t u r e . We have a l s o i n s t i t u t e d the " P r e s i d e n t ' s Message" from E l z y E l t z r o t h to keep you a b r e a s t of Board b u s i n e s s .

S p e c i a l thanks go to Judy C a r l s o n and Susan Gordon who di d the bulk of the typing f o r the l a s t four i s s u e s ; to Joe E v a n i c h f o r h i s continued c o n t r i b u t i o n of f i n e drawings; to Alan C o n t r e r a s f o r h i s a s s i s t a n c e i n drawing maps; to V i c k i Slaughter of the Oregon D a i l y Emerald f o r help with the h e a d l i n e s ; to the f r i e n d l y s t a f f of the U n i v e r s i t y of Oregon P r e s s f o r p r i n t i n g ; and to Jim C a r l s o n of h i s able a s s i s t a n c e i n a l l a s p e cts of the p u b l i c a t i o n - h i s t i t l e should be c o - e d i t o r . We are p l e a s e d to i n t r o d u c e i n t h i s i s s u e artwork by Steve H e i n l . He i s a student a t South Eugene High School and an a c t i v e b i r d e r i n the Eugene area.

During the next year, we hope to continue to pursue our primary g o a l s : 1) To d i s s e m i n a t e information on the s c i e n t i f i c and e d u c a t i o n a l a s p e c t s of Oregon's b i r d s ; 2) To promote the r e c r e a t i o n a l a s p e c t s of b i r d i n g ; and 3) To improve communication among Oregon's b i r d i n g commun­i t y - p r o f e s s i o n a l and amateur a l i k e .

We are always open to suggestions f o r improvement and to new i d e a s . P l e a s e communicate your comments to us. We a c t i v e l y s o l i c i t a r t i c l e s , and we are always i n t e r e s t e d i n r e c e i v i n g new s i t e guides, b i r d i d e n t i f i c a t i o n a r t i c l e s , a r t i c l e s on Oregon b i r d d i s t r i b u t i o n and s t a t u s , and other a r t i c l e s of i n t e r e s t and i n keeping with OFO's g o a l s . Manuscripts submitted should be typed and double spaced w i t h one i n c h margins. We w i l l do our b e s t to help w i t h maps and artwork. We are a l s o open to r e c e i v i n g artwork f o r c o n s i d e r a t i o n . We p r e f e r pen and ink on white paper and cannot r e t u r n o r i g i n a l works a f t e r p u b l i c a t i o n .

Enjoy one or more of Oregon's Christmas B i r d Counts and good b i r d i n g i n 1931. We hope to hear from you and to meet you a t the Annual Meeting a t Newport on A p r i l 4 and 5!

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"Send Field Notes T o . . . " When a f i e l d i n Oregon, p l e a s e share your u n u s u a l

o r e x c i t i n g f i n d s w i t h o t h e r s . C o o p e r a t i v e communi­c a t i o n w i t h t h e i n d i v i d u a l s and groups l i s t e d below w i l l h e l p promote a b e t t e r u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f Oregon's b i r d s . Many o f t h e t w e l v e r e p o r t i n g areas a r e g e n e r a l l y r e p r e s e n t e d by Audubon groups o r o t h e r b i r d c l u b s who r e g u l a r l y p u b l i s h f i e l d n o t e s and a r e i n t e r e s t e d i n o b s e r v a t i o n s " c l o s e t o home".

1. H a r r y Nehls, 2736 S.E. 2 0 t h , P o r t l a n d 97202 2. Thomas C r a b t r e e , 3733 S t a n l e y Lane S., Salem 97302 3. M. S. " E l z y " E l t z r o t h , 3595 N.W. R o o s e v e l t ,

C o r v a l l i s 97330 4. Tad F i n n e l l , 2412 A l d e r , Eugene 97405 5. F r e d P a r k e r , 313 W. H i c k o r y , Roseburg 97470 6. A l a n McGj.e, 3603 Edgewood Dr., N o r t h Bend 97459 .7. J i m Rogers, S t a r R t . , Box 151-A, P o r t O r f o r d 97465 8. V i n c e Zauskey, 945 E. Main, A s h l a n d 97520 9. Steve Summers, 1009 Merryman, Klamath F a l l s 97601

10. A d e l e R o d r i g u e z , 630 6 t h S t . , Madras 97741 11. Grande Ronde B i r d C lub, Box 29, La Grande 97850 12. C. D. L i t t l e f i e l d and Steve Thompson, Malheur

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