SKPTEMBER MEETING: 1 he regular monthly meeting of the Audu- bon^ Association of the Pacific will be held on "^riiursday evening, the 11th of September, at 8 o’clock sharp, in the Lecture Room of the California Development Board, Ferry Building. x\lr. Tracy I. Storer, Field Naturalist of the University of California, who has recently returned from a field trip in the Yosemite District, will give an illustrated lecture on “Woodpeckers of California.” Members are urged to attend this meeting, that they may become better acquainted with this interesting group of birds. ¥ ¥ SEPTEMBER FIELD TRIP will be taken on Sunday, 14th inst. to Big Lagoon, via Muir AVoods; returning via Coyote Creek and the old rifle lange to Manzanita; distance, 12 miles. Purchase round trip tickets to Mill \ alley, 40c. Take Sausalito Ferry 8:15 a. m. Bring lunch and canteens. This route traverses every _ variety^ of habitat in this locality and as many as fifty-five different species of birds have been encountered on pre- vious one-day trips, although this is not to be anticipated at this season of the year. ¥ Jjt V PROCEEDINGS OF THE AUGUST MEETING: The thirty-first regular meeting of the Association was held on the 14th of August in the Ferry Building, President I-astreto in the chair. It was decided to make a report to the Superintendent of Parks on the results of the work done at the Bird Preserve in Golden Gate Park and to insure its continuance and extension, and a committee consisting of' Dr. D’Evelyn and Mr. Hansen was appointed to convey the message. Mr. Hansen reported on the very effective work in Bird instruction ac- complished at the Boy Scouts’ Training Camp. Mr. C. R. Smith recounted some of his usually interesting observations, especially of the water ouzel’s song. Mr. Ed. Ellis discoursed on the breeding of poultry, especially the changing of coloration through feeding and resulting surprising effect's. A prolonged discussion followed on the general topic of artificially pro- duced coloration on other domesticated and caged birds, revealing a wide and interesting topic. At a prc\ious meeting of the Board of Directors, Judge Rolla B. W'att and Mrs. Paula L. Watt were elected to membership. ¥ V ACTIVITIES OF THE JUNIOR ANNEX: The vacation season now having ended, the junior clubs arc rapidly reorganizing, and will soon be progressing in a satisfactory manner. Mrs. Roe has taken charge of the l-lummer Junior Audubon Club, and started things a humming last Saturday afternoon with a field trip in Golden Gate Park. THE GULE Ralph Vincent, President of tlic Gull Junior Audubon Club, reported the appearance of an Anthony green heron in Golden Gate Park, near Stow Lake, Saturday, August 16, 1919. Special mention and expression of appreciation are due the California Academy of Sciences, who, through Dr. Evermann, Curator of the Museum, has given free of all expense a meeting place with unusual conveniences for hoy bird students, and on every request lends all the specimens desired from the Academy’s collection. 3^ 3^ A COLONY OF TRICOLOR BLACKBIRDS Not far from San Francisco is a considerable breeding ground of the Tricolor Blackbird (Agelaius tricolor). It is so near that the Audubon Society could visit it conveniently. 1 have been making one or more visits to it each spring for three years. My first visit was with Dr. John Van Denburgh, May 20, 1917. We found the birds nesting in a large, dense patch of the common nettle (TJrtica calif ornica) . There were apparently two or three hundred of the birds, and the nesting season was about over. I found many nests from which the young had flown, many others with young still in them, and a few still with eggs. In another part of the nettle patch Dr. Van Denburgh found some forty tO' fifty nests usually with four eggs each, some with only one, two, or three. Apparently the one large colony was made up of two or more sub-colonies, all of which do not nest exactly at the same time. Or, perhaps, the belated nesters were birds which had met with some mishap in their first attempt to nest and were now making a second effort. In one corner of the nettle patch where the nettles were somewhat less tall than elsewhere I noted that the nests were rather nearer to the ground than usual, and, on closer examination, nearly every nest was seen to be tilted over to one side. I suspected that some varmiiU had been inspecting these nests and the suspicion became a conviction when a most stifling odor surrounded me and I became aware I had stepped on a skunk! The ground covered by the nettles is doubtless covered by water early in the spring but much of it becomes almost or quite dry before the birds are done nesting. 1 visited this place again on May 4, 1918. The patch of nettles in which I found them in 1917 was practically deserted; part of it had been burned over and it was all much drier. But in another patch not far away I found the Tricolor in large numbers. The nesting season was at its height. Many nests were examined and nearly all contained four eggs each; a few con- tained three, two, or one. Rarely one was found with j'-oung birds just hatched, and still more rarely a nest not yet completed was seen. Just a year later (May 4. 1919), I again visited this place. There were two to three hundred birds about, the females all very busy nest-building, the males sitting about on the nettle tops, in the bushes, or on the fence near by, now and then spreading their wings shorving the beautiful three- colored shoulder patch most attractively, and keeping up the constant gut- tural croaking which I suppose they think is a song. The patch which was so nearly abandoned in 1918 had recuperated and two to three birds were there actively building. It was noted that the birds at the first patch, which was near a barley field, were using dry barley stems and blades as nesting- material, while those at the other place, more remote from the barley field, were not using any of that material whatever. The scene was certainly an interesting one and I spent most of the day watching the beautiful birds coming and going and listening to the raucous notes of the males. Apparently the season was just a week later than in 1918. Just a week later (May 11), I went again to the place. Instead of seeing the birds in large numbers as I had expected, there was scarcely a bird in sight. When 1 arrived at the nearest patch, instead of seeing many birds leave their nests and finding numerous nests with full complement of eggs, L saw only THE GUEE .1 few birds. Entering the patch of nettles 1 found plenty of nests but nearly every one of them was tilted over to one side and either empty or with a few bits of broken egg shells. A visit to the other patch disclosed the same conditions. Very few birds were about and they were silent, d'he only nests in which any eggs were found were such as had been placed high u]) in the weeds; every nest less than two feet above the ground had been pulled over from below and the eggs taken or broken. The odor of the skunk was every\\licre, albeit by no means as overpowering as when T stepped on one of the varmints two years before! .■Mthougb 1 did not catch a skunk in the act, T believe that animal is the guilty iiarty. It might have been the opossum (lately introduced) but I hardly think so. At any rate it is evident that one or two varmints jiossess- ing this habit can, in^^ season or two, practically exterminate a colony of such birds as these. 1 he only safety for the birds is to change their breed- ing grounds or nest higher up in the nettles. The harm the skunks and C'possums do to ground nesting birds must be great indeed. This is a mat- ter which the Audubon Society might properly investigate. B.vkton W.vitmcN Evehmann. California Academy of Sciences. ¥ V ¥ FEW MIGRANTS AT THE FARALLONES Mr. Kunder, keeper Farallon light-house, who has been enjoying his first “shore leave” in nearly two years, reports an unusually light migration of land birds during the last season: “not one-tenth of the average number.” If there is any connection between this and the small number of birds observed in the vicinity in the last months, it would be interesting to know the cause. ¥ ¥ ¥ RECORDS By Mr. C. R. Smith June 10, 1919: No. 77, Blacktern. A number of birds, twelve or fifteen, were seen near the highway between Galt and Woodbridge. On the fol- lowing day a single specimen was seen at Woodbridge. July 18, 1919: No. 125, White pelican. Three specimens were seen on a fresh water pond near Woodbridge on the Sacramento and Stockton road. No. 703a, Western mocking bird. Following northern records on June 9, 1919, a single bird four miles out of Sacramento. On the same date one was heard singing at Florin three or four miles ofif the main highway. On August 3, 19l9, two specimens were seen on the Stockton road about five miles from Sacramento. The nearest citrus groves would be from fifteen to twenty miles in the Orangevale district and I had occasion to pass through this district a few days previous and did not see the bird nor was 1 successful in finding any records of the mocking bird in this citrus sec- tion. Nor have I ever seen the mocking bird in the Oroville, C)rland or Corning citrus district. ¥ ¥ ¥ BIRD DESTRUCTION ON OILED ROADS A considerable loss to bird life is caused by the asphaltum base high- ways of San Joaquin County. In the heat of the summer, which is all the way from 100 degrees up, patches of liquid asphaltum form which prove to be a death trap to birds, especially to the meadoAv lark, brewer black birds, occasionally a linnet and horned larks. Not only are they held by this in the roadway and run over by automobiles, but those who succeed in escap- ing this death often starve, as it is impossible for our feathered friend to clear itself. One consolation is that this class of highway is not successful and concrete base will be used in the future. C. R. S^^TIr. THE GULE ALTERED LIFE HABITS THROUGH CHANGED CONDITIONS It has came to tlie writer’s observation tliat birds living in dilTcrent localities change their habits to a considerable extent in regard to the food supply. In the early part of April of this jmar I was in Nevada, and at this .season the trees, which are largely cottonwoods and willows, had not leaved out and the English sparrow was nesting. 1 counted 122 nests in one blovk and as the desert towns afford no food for the English sparrow except within their limits, which are small, the H. C. L. with the English sparrow is on a par with the Anierican citizen and makes him hustle. He turns to the fly catching habit, although clumsily. I saw him go up straight in the air to a height of 14 feet and bring down a fine fat grassho-pper. It is true that he showed none of the dash of our regular fly catcher, but it is evident that he succeeds in adding to his meagre living by these methods. C. R. Smith. ^ ^ ^ ALARM OF THE HAWK’S SHADOW Birds, at least wild birds, knov' their enemies. I have never observed a bird that would show fear from the shadow of a vulture, but let a hawk, even the red tailed, whose reputation is almo'St beyond question as a killer, follow in the wake of the vulture, and the average bird will sound its alarm note and sometimes seek cover. One bird that seems fearless regardless of what member of the hawk family is present, is the California woodpecker, who not for one instant slackens his clown-like antics nor does he notice you. C. R. Smith. THE AUGUST FIELD TRIP was made on Sunday, August 17th, to Wildcat Canyon, among the hills back of Berkeley. Wildcat was at its best, neither too warm nor too cool, and the day passed very pleasantly, in spite of the fact that comparatively few birds were in evidence. Some of the party entered near the upper end; others came past the reservoir on the ridge and skirted the west side of the canyon to the pump- ing station. The bottom was then traversed for a mile or more to a delight- ful luncheon spot on the rooks in the creek bed. About four o’clock the party climbed the ridge to the reservoir and returned to town via the elec- tric line along Arlington Avenue. From San Francisco came Mr. Webb, kir. and Mrs. Smith, with Mi''s Brown as a guest. Miss Griffin and Miss Potter made the trip in their machinc from Oakland. Miss Flynn, Mr. Thomas and Mr. and Mrs. Kibbc repre.'^ented Berkeley, making eight members and two guests. Birds encountered were: California quail, sharp-shinned and red-tailed hawks; flicker, Anna and Allen hummers; coast and California jays; meadow larks, purple finch and linnets; green-backed goldfinches, Nuttall sparrow, California and' San Francisco towhees; Hutton vireo, pileolated warbler and titmouse; bush-tits, wren-tit and russet backed thrush. Twenty-one species in all. AUDUBON ASSOCIATION OF THE PACIFIC FOR THE STUDY AND THE PROTECTION OF BIRDS President, C. B. Lastreto 260 California St.. San Francisco Corresponding Secretary, C. N. Douglas Kohl Building, San Francisco Superintendent of Juniors, Harold E. Hansen 870 Forty-third Avenue. San Francisco Treasurer, A. S. Kihbe 1534 Grove St., Berkeley Meets second Thursday of each month in Lecture Room of California Development Board, Ferry Building, San Francisco. Everyone welcome. Active Membership, $3,00 per year, including Bulletin. The Gull invites free and open discussion. The views expressed herein are not necessarily the views nor the stand taken by this Association. Address Bulletin correspondence to President. Subscription to Bulletin alone, 35c per year. Single copies, 5c.