M&O Serials QL 671 .G84 T H IE MONTHLY Volume 38 cue BULLETIN JoRNIA /\CAl)£ NOV 5 1956 Berkeley, California, November, IVbi II a [ > Vi Number SEPTEMBER TRIP TO ALAMEDA About 65 members and guests participated in the field trip on Sunday, September 30, to Alameda and Bay Farm Island to observe shorebirds. High tide at Fort Point, San Francisco, was 5.2 feet at 8:4l a.m. P.S.T., low tide was 1.8 feet at 2 : 1 6 p.m. P.S.T. The party met at Santa Clara Avenue and High Street at 9:45 a.m. P.S.T. While waiting for the group to assemble birds were observed in Lincoln Park. The weather was perfect. We then proceeded to Oakport Street (frontage road along freeway), East Oakland, where many large waders were awaiting the receding tide. As near as we could estimate there were about 75 Long-billed Curlews and 1500 Marbled Godwits. The following 48 species were observed: Eared Grebe, Brown Pelican, Great Blue Heron, American Egret, Mallard, Pintail, Turkey Vulture, Red- tailed Hawk, Sparrow Hawk, Clapper Rail 3, Am. Coot, Semipalmated Plover [recognized again by the A.O.U. as a species separate from the Ringed Plover of the Old World — Ed.], Killdeer, Black-bellied Plover, Ruddy Turnstone, Long-billed Curlew, Hudsonian Curlew, Willet, Greater Yellow-legs, Pectoral Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Dowitcher, Western Sandpiper, Marbled Godwit, Sanderling, Avocet, Glaucous-winged Gull, Western Gull, Herring Gull, Cali- fornia Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Forster's Tern, Mourning Dove, Anna’s Hum- mingbird, Allen’s Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Scrub Jay, Loggerhead Shrike, Yellow Warbler, Audubon’s Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, House Sparrow, W. Meadowlark, Red-winged Blackbird, Brewer’s Blackbird, House Finch, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow. — Junea W. Kelly, Lender and Historian. — 47 — November THE GULL 1956 OCTOBER BOAT TRIP EXPLORES OCEAN BEYOND FARALLONS The special field trip of October 14 by chartered boats carried the 50 participants (aboard the Rowland R Sr. and the Privateer) into an area not visited on any of our previous boat trips — the waters to about 4 miles beyond the S.E. Farallon Island, near the brink of the continental shelf. The two boats roughly paralleled one another from the Golden Gate to the Lightship and thence to the island; and by virtue of the one to two miles distance between them, observers on the two courses scanned a considerable swath of ocean. Nevertheless nothing of great interest was seen until they were near- ing the island. Then the Privateer was approached by an albatross, which was coaxed in quite close to the boat by the ''albatross-candy” mixture of bacon grease and corn "Kix” cereal that had been prepared for just such an occosion. Although many photo- graphs were taken of this bird, and wonderful views enjoyed (even by those who suffered from mal-de-mer), it was just too wary to be captured by net for banding purposes. Another albatross was similarly engaged by both boats in the area beyond the island in the early afternoon; and it was here, in the area of upwelling deep water, that the greatest numbers of shearwaters and alcids were seen. The jaegers seen here and en- route on the first part of the return trip were disappointingly nearly all in the im- mature plumage, and lacked the identifying long central tail feathers. One such that was taken as a specimen for the Mills College collection created some excitement when its blue-gray tarsi were noted, for Peterson (Field Guide to the Birds — "Eastern”) mentions this as a character of the rarer Long-tailed Jaeger. However, it was later found that both the Long-tailed and the Parasitic possess this character as immatures, though only the Long-tailed retains it in the adult. Hence the specimen is a Parasitic Jaeger, as its other characteristics indicate. The island itself was largely deserted of the great concentrations of birds found here in the nesting season; but a nice flock of Oyster-catchers and a male Harlequin Duck were noteworthy additions there. Most unique was a pure albino Cormorant (Brandt’s?) with numerous Northern Sea-lions on the small offshore islet by the S.E. part of the island. It showed pink eyes, bill, and feet; and was photographed by many aboard the nearby boats. Tufted Puffins were not encountered — the greatest "miss” on the trip. The return trip followed a route a few miles to the south of the outbound one, and netted chiefly the jaegers and several Gray-backed Shearwaters (good views of the latter only from aboard the Rowland R Sr.). The following 25 species were seen within San Francisco Bay or in the Gate-. Arctic Loon 1, Red-throated Loon 1. Horned Grebe 36, Eared Grebe 4, Western Grebe 8, Brown Pelican 17, Double-crested Cormorant 2, Brandt’s Cormorant 150, Pelagic Cor- morant 4, Am. Egret 2, Black-crowned Night Heron 3, Am. Widgeon 40, Surf Scoter 5, Black Turnstone 12, Willet 2, Sanderling 25, No. Phalarope 2, Phalarope sp. 15, Parasitic Jaeger 3 (near San Francisco, observed from Rowland R. Sr.), Western Gull 400, California Gull 100, Ring-billed Gull 1, Heermann’s Gull 12, Forster’s Tern 55, Common Murre 5, Brewer’s Blackbird 1; also — porpoise, sp., 2. In the following list of the 38 species seen beyond the Golden Gate (which includes 24 species not seen in the Bay or Gate, for a total of 62 species on the trip), the first numeral following the name indicates the number tallied or estimated between the W. end of the Gate and the Lightship, the next one the number between there and the S.E. — 48 THE GULL 1956 November Farallon and vicinity, the third the number seen while circling the island closely, and the fouith the number found in the area southwest to south of the island: Common Loon, 3/-/-/-; Arctic Loon, -/ 1 ; Red-throated Loon, -/ 1/ Loon, sp.?, 2 Black-footed Albatross, -/l/-/l; Sooty Shearwater, 1/59/-/400; Black-vented (?) Shear- water, -/-/-/ 1; Pink-footed Shearwater, -/6/-/12; (New Zealand) Gray-backed Shear- water, -/-/-/ 5; Shearwater, sp.?, -/14/-/100; Fulmar (?), -/ 1 /-/-; Ashy or Black Petrel, -/ 3/-/-; Brown Pelican, 7/12/300/30; Double- crested Cormorant, 3/ -/ 2 /- ; Brandt’s Cormorant, 3/2000 (most in one flock a few miles from island) / 1500/500; Pelagic Cormorant, 1/1/150/20; Black Brant (?), -/80 (one flock) -/-/-; Harlequin Duck, - /-/ 1/- ; Falcon, sp.? [Peregrine is most likely — Ed.], -/-/ 1 /-; Black Oyster- catcher, -/-/ 8/ -; Black Turnstone, -/-/20/-; Red Phalarope, 12/-/ 1/-; No. Phalarope, l/-/-/-; Phalarope, sp.?, -/-/-/ 10 ; Sandpiper, sp.?, 12/-/-/-; Pomarine Jaeger, -/ 1 / -/ 2 ; Parasitic Jaeger, -/3/-/-; Jaeger, sp.?, -/2/-/17; Glaucous-winged Gull, 1/6/10/5; Western Gull, 110/170/few thousand/hundreds; Herring Gull, - /-/- / 4 ; California Gull, 80/30/40/; Ring-billed Gull, 1 / 50/ -/-; Short-billed Gull, 1 /-/-/- ; Heermann’s Gull, 7/24/50/25; Bonaparte’s Gull, 16 (one flock) /-/-/-; Common Murre, 81/33/30/50; Pigeon Guillemot, -/-/ 5/-; Cassin’s Auklet, -/ 1 5/ 4/1 00; Rhino- ceros Auklet, -/ 5/-/ 2 ; Black Phoebe, -/-/-/ 1; Rock Wren, -/-/2/-. In addition a Paroquet Auklet and a possible Skua were reported without sufficient descriptive de- tail to substantiate sight records of these species, both rarely recorded in this region. The editor will be pleased to print the supporting details if the observers concerned send them in. — Alan M. Craig and Howard L. Cogswell, Leaders and Historians, NEW MEMBERS We welcome the following new members to the Golden Gate Audubon Society: from Berkeley, Mrs. E. A. Abeel, Mr. Joshua A. Barkin, Mr. John L. Jory, and Mr. Andy R. Udall; from Mill Valley, Mrs. S. I. Hayakawa; from Oakland, Mrs. Bernard S. Greensfelder, Mrs. E. A. Wright, Miss Doris E. Garnick, Mr. Dave Farrow, and Miss Florence E. Turner; from San Francisco, Dr. Joseph J. Raffetto, Mrs. Martha Her- berg, and Dr. L. S. Cherney. The membership count is now 896. — Jean L. Dunham, M.D., Membership Chairman. OFFICIAL NOTICES The Board of Directors announces that the official delegate from our Society to the National Audubon Society’s 52nd Annual Convention to be held in New York City, November 10 to 13, will be Mr. Howard L. Cogswell, currently editor and a director of the Golden Gate Society and a past vice-president and field trips chairman [President’s order that this be said — Ed.]. The delegate hopes to be able to bring back a worth- while report and exchange some ideas which will benefit societies both East and West. — 49 — November 1956 THE GULL There will be a MEETING OF OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN (or other representatives of the various activities) of Audubon branches and affiliates at Mills College, Oakland, on Saturday, January 19. Simultaneous sessions will cover such topics as constitution and by-laws, program and field trips, Junior Audubon work, adult educational programs, publicity, Screen Tours, and bulletins and other publications. Despite the fact that our new officers will have just been installed in January, it is hoped that they will see to it that each of these fields is represented at this gathering where sharing of experiences of the various groups improves the operation of all. The NOMINATING COMMITTEE has been appointed by the Board of Directors, and instructed to present names of candidates for officers and directors of the Golden Gate Audubon Society, Inc., at the December or January meeting, for election by mem- bers present at the annual (January) meeting. Members of the Society are urged to submit soon their suggestions for nominees to the committee members — Mrs. Laurel Reynolds (Chairman), 140 Estates Dr., Piedmont 11 (AN 1-7121); Miss Alice Leet, 1050 Spruce St., Berkeley 7; and Mr. Edward Sibley, 229 Juanita Way, San Francisco 16. Nominations may also be made from the floor at the annual meting. WARDEN SERVICE for the South San Francisco Bay Salt-marsh and Mud Flat Sanctuary areas was begun on October 3 and will continue through the end of the waterfowl hunting season in January. The warden is Mr. John O. Larson, Jr., who has been in similar service for the National Audubon Society in Texas. A photograph of Mr. John H. Baker, National Audubon president, and Mr. Larson at the boat-launching at Redwood City appeared in the Palo Alto Times for October 4, together with a fine news item of the occasion. The cost of the patrol is being borne by the National Audubon Society from its Sanctuary Fund — always a most worthwhile place to put whatever funds you can spare to work for wildlife conservation. Anyone interested in "going to school” to learn bird songs and calls and what one can do in the way of censusing birds by voice (as well as by sight), and who is willing to pay a moderate registration fee to have such a course organized and taught, should send name and address to our president, Mrs. Browne (address on last page of this issue). This COURSE IN BIRDING BY EAR would be taught in the best class- room of all- — the out-of-doors- — and could begin in a limited way this coming spring. If sufficient interest develops, definite plans will be announced in January. Participants would have to provide or arrange for their own transportation to various out-door "classrooms” in the Bay Area, sometimes quite early in the morning. CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS The Golden Gate Audubon Society will again sponsor two Christmas Bird Counts to be taken as set forth by Audubon Field Notes, the magazine in which the counts all across the nation are published. The San Francisco Count will again be under the chairmanship of Mr. Arthur Myer, 25 El Camino Real, Berkeley 5; and the Oakland Count will be chairmaned by Lee Stallcup, 6227 Buenaventura St., Oakland 5. Send in your name and address now to one or both of these chairmen if you can participate. — 50 — November THE GULL 1956 Its a lot ot work to keep hireling and counting diligently in an assigned area ail day; but it s also a lot of fun to see the combined results of numerous crews covering the whole region. 1 he San Francisco Count will be taken on Sunday, December 23, and the Oakland one on Sunday, December 30. So why not share in both? The Society will pay the fee required of all individual counters or group leaders. EDITOR'S CORNER A number of requests for back issues of The Gull have depleted the stock of certain issues on hand; and there is an urgent need to locate numbers of certain others so that volumes can be bound for the Society’s files. The following issues are missing entirely from our supply: 1948 (Apr.); 1949 (all — none on hand); 1950 (Jan., Feb., Mar., May, June, July, Aug., Sep.); 1951 (Sep.); 1952 (Jan., Mar., May, July, Nov., Dec.); 1953 (Jan.); 1956 (Aug.). If you can supply some of these issues, or know of the location of the missing sequences, please contact the editor promptly. RECENT SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE OF INTEREST TO THE AMATEUR ORNI1 HOLOGIST: Dixon, Keith L., "Territoriality and Survival in the Plain Tit- mouse," Condor, 58:169-182 (May-June, 1956) — maps and description of populations in Strawberry Canyon, Berkeley, 1947 to 1952. Legg, Ken, "A Sea-Cave Nest of the Black Swift,” Condor, 58:183-187. Altmann, Stuart A., "Avian Mobbing Behavior and Predator Recognition, Condor, 58:241-253 (July-Aug., 1956) — on experiments with reactions of many song birds to stuffed owls, and the question of inheritability of such reaction. Johnston, Richard F., "Population Structure in Salt Marsh Song Sparrows. Part II: Density, Age Structure, and Maintenance,” Condor, 58:254-272 — on how these birds keep up their numbers in spite of fluctuating tide levels and other disturbing factors in their particular environment. Hoffmann, Robert S., "Observations on a Sooty Grouse Population at Sage Hen Creek, California,” Condor, 58:321-337 (Sep .-Oct., 1956) — including map of habitats of the area, description of migration, flocking, breeding and winter behavior, and population fluctuations. Williamson, Francis S. L., "The Molt and Testis Cycles of the Anna Hummingbird, "Condor, 58:342-366 — in- cluding summary chart of all major activities of the year in this species (p. 365). A good friend of many members of this Society and a member formerly very active among conservation circles in the Bay Area has moved on into such an area and performing such a study that some of us are green with envy. Yet, we wish him the greatest of success and know he will have it. Mr. George Treichel and his wife Jeanie (whom he took from the Santa Clara Valley Audubon area and activities) are now or soon will be in East and Central Africa where they are gathering material for a Handbook which will be a comprehensive naturalist’s guide to the National Parks and Wildlife Reserves of Africa, and a report on their relationship as a wildlife asset for the world to the human population pressures and needs, present and future. The project is sponsored by the New York Zoological Society and the Conservation Foun- dation. The Treichels will be on the move via safari-type vehicle so much that their only address for the next 15 to 18 months will be: c/o N.Y. Zoological Society, 185th and Southern Blvd., New York 60, N.Y. — 51 — THE GULL 1956 Nc iber NOVEMBER MEETING The 470th regular meeting of the Golden Gate Audubon Society will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 8, in the auditorium of the Rotary Natural Science Center, near the bird-feeding area at Lake Merritt (Lakeside Park), in Oakland. From San Francisco take Key System Line B to Grand Ave. at Perkins St. Walk one block down Perkins to the Center. Dr. Eric Reynolds will speak on a war being waged cur- rently in the Central Pacific area, "Albatrosses and Terns versus the United States Navy." Dr. Reynolds’ talk will be illustrated by a short film made by himself and other East Bay physicians (Doctors Arthur Hunnicutt, G. L. Crenshaw, and Gerald Gray) while on a naval mission to the mid-Pacific islands. In addition Dr. Lynn Force will give a brief account of bird-banding experiences around his home, showing methods used for his interesting hobby. Come and bring a friend to this meeting, which might be called "Doctors’ Night at the Audubon Society." — Laurel Reynolds, Program Chairman. Dinner is available, cafateria style, at 6 p.m. at the Lakeside Restaurant just across the bird-feeding area from the Natural Science Center in the park; also at several other places nearby on Grand Ave. — Bonnie Smith, Social Chairman. FIELD TRIPS FOR NOVEMBER On Sunday, November 11, to Point Reyes, Tomales Bay, and Tomales Point if weather permits. This is close to the peak of the migration of loons, which can be counted by the thousands passing these points if conditions are favorable. A great many other water birds and a variety of habitats for land birds make this one of the most productive areas we visit. Come and see them yourself. Meet at 9:30 a.m. at Inverness. Co-leaders, Lee Stallcup and Mrs. Grace Miller. On Saturday, November 24, to Orinda and San Pablo Reservoir, another area usually alive with birds at this season. Meet at 9:00 a.m. at the Orinda Theater near Orinda Crossroads. Leader, Peter Veitch. — Lee Stallcup, Field Trips Chairman , LO 9-3185. GOLDEN GATE AUDUBON SOCIETY, INC. Established January 25, 1917 President- Mrs. George C. Browne 2435 Ivy Drive, Oakland 6, TW 3-5469 Vice President Dr. T. Eric Reynolds 140 Estates Drive, Piedmont II, AN I -7 1 2 1 Vice President Mrs. Budd J. Smith 555 Dewey Boulevard, San Francisco 16, OV 1-7635 Treasurer Harold G. Peterson 3548 - 65th Avenue, Oakland 5, LO 8-7534 Recording Secretary Mrs. Roberta J. Long 45 Clarendon Avenue, San Francisco 14, LO 4-7767 Corresponding Secretary Mrs. Hermine H. VanGelder 2409 Bowditch Street, Berkeley 4, AS 3-9740 Director Arthur J. Bennett 836 Mills Avenue, San Bruno, JU 8-6702 Director Dr. Albert Boles 854 Longridge Road, Oakland 10, GL 1-6267 Director and Editor Howard L. Cogswell. Box 9486, Mills College, Oakland 13, NE 6-1573 Distribution Chairman Miss Alice Leet 1 050 Spruce Street, Berkeley 7, LA 4-2488 Membership Chairman Dr. Jean L. Dunham 4607 Harbord Drive, Oakland 18, oL 5-1591 Claims for missing numbers of THE GULL should be sent to the Distribution Chairman. Changes of address should be sent to the Membership Chairman. Monthly meetings second Thursday, 7:30 p.m. Joint Membership, Local and National, J 5.00 per year, includes AUDUBON MAGAZINE and THE GULL. Subscription to THE GULL separately 5 I 06 per year. Branch of NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY, California Office — 2426 Bancroft Way Berkeley 4 — TH. 8-4042 — 52 —