Once again we are seeing the beginning of the "fall" migrations along the coast, even though mankind says August is still summer. Many of the shorebirds that were seen in spring (Knots, Yellowlegs, Sanderlings, Turnstones, Plovers) have completed their nesting season in the far north. Those now heading south are mostly adults who have finished their responsibilities and are leaving their nestlings to continue feeding and strengthening flight muscles.

These adults certainly look bedraggled as their feathers have been faded by the sun and edges torn by the stress of the flight north, mating, and nest building. Some have started to molt into their winter plumage, thus making identification more difficult.

We are beginning to see subtle changes in the coloring of the adult gulls as they begin their transition to winter plumage. This, along with the appearance of the immatures, increases the difficulties we have with identification. Learn the differences in body sizes as a clue, and trust your field guides to fill in the various nuances of color.

The same places you visited to watch the northward procession of the shorebirds are also great locations to observe their fall migrations: Brigantine and Cape May, New Jersey; Bombay Hook and Port Mahon, Delaware; Ocean City and Assateague, Maryland; and Chincoteague, Virginia are great places to put your scopes and binocs to use.

Do not give up - apply your abilities and knowledge to the task. Think positive! You can identify these shorebirds and gulls at this annual intermediate stage in their lives. Go for it, and Good Birding!

Earl Palmer

This issue of CHIP NOTES marks the beginning of a new birding year for the Baltimore Bird Club. The enclosed Membership Directory includes the new list of officers for the club. Earl Palmer is continuing as President and Bob Rineer is now Vice-President. Incidentally, our past president, Bill Newman, has become President of our parent organization, the Maryland Ornithological Society. Congratulations, and good luck!

There have been some major changes in the publications area. Michele Melia is now the Chairperson for publications, replacing Karen Skuldt, who is moving to Meadville, Pa. Thank you, Karen, for your years of hard work for the club. We wish you the best of luck. Steve Sanford is taking over the editorship of CHIP NOTES. Many thanks to Dottee Palmer for doing this job last year. Terry Ross is taking over the job of Distribution Coordinator for CHIP NOTES. We urge you to contact him at 467-8137 to help assemble the mailings and get them to the post office.

Try to take the time to complete the membership questionnaire included with this mailing. Please send it with your dues. This is your big chance to express your preferences on various subjects such as the ever-popular program book issue.

FROM THE PROGRAM COMMITTEE

LINKING TALKS AND TRIPS

This year the Program Committee is coordinating some of the Tuesday Evening at Cylburn lectures with our field trip schedule. BBC field trips have always tracked the "hot" or most plentiful bird species of each season. So this year we have scheduled as many lectures as possible to provide basic birding information for the seasonal birds. (For example, fall and spring warblers, fall hawk migration, and winter waterfowl and gulls.) Please check the Tuesday lecture write-ups in the Chip Notes for the planned follow-up field trips. We hope this new format will be helpful and fun for all birders, from beginners to advanced.

BEYOND BIRDING

Based on your response to last year's questionnaire, we are also scheduling a few new "Beyond Birding" trips. The first will be on Maryland Mushrooms, October 3 to be led by fungus expert and BBC member, Paul Noell.

Perhaps you are knowledgeable about butterflies, reptiles, trees, or geology, to name a few possibilities. If you could lead a "Beyond Birding" trip or have any other suggestions, please call Karen Morley, Program Coordinator, at (410) 547-0306.

TUESDAY AT CYLBURN

The first two lectures at Cylburn this season are both oriented towards helping you with identifying birds. The September 1 lecture will feature Pete Webb, faithful BBC field trip leader and organizer, showing us how to identify fall warblers in their tricky fall plumage. The October 6 lecture on hawks will be by Rik Blom, one of the top birders of Maryland and the east coast. See the "Activities Schedule" for details.

SITE GUIDES

The Board is trying to work up a series of site guides to be included in future CHIP NOTES. Please contact Earl Palmer, 252-6457, if you'd like to be involved. The first installment, on Cylburn, will appear in the next CHIP NOTES. (Feel free to submit informal articles about birding locales directly to CHIP NOTES any time.)

HELP WANTED --SCHOOL PROGRAMS

We need someone to step forward and volunteer to become the "Chairperson" for school programs. This would entail making arrangements for groups of students to learn about birds and nature by visiting Cylburn under the guidance of BBC members. Patsy Perlman has faithfully performed this important service for many years, for which we are very grateful. Now she would like to pass this job to someone new.

If you would like more information about what you would be doing, contact Patsy Perlman at 466-6908. If you are ready to volunteer, please contact Earl Palmer at 252-6457.

HELP WANTED --HOSPITALITY

Volunteers are needed to host the monthly meetings of the BBC. You would be responsible for providing the snacks and drinks enjoyed by club members during the social time before one meeting. The choice of snacks are up to your imagination! Have a new recipe that you are just dying to try out?... Team up with a friend or two, or just call me and I will find you a partner. Plates, napkins, and cups will be provided by the club. The names of the hosts or hostesses will be listed in the CHIP NOTES along with the announcement of the monthly topic. Call Mary Byers at 686-7294 to reserve your month!

Mary Byers

LET'S BE ENVIRONMENTALLY CORRECT

I would like for us to borrow a great idea from the Anne Arundel Bird Club.... BRING YOUR OWN CUP ! Starting next birding year, I encourage club members to bring a cup from home to enjoy the wonderful drinks we serve during the social time before each meeting. Since we are a group which has the enjoyment of nature and natural areas as one of its goals, I feel we should try to decrease the amount of waste we produce whenever possible. If you forget to bring your cup, we will still have paper or plastic cups available.

Mary Byers

BALTIMORE RARE BIRD BOOKS OPEN AGAIN

April 15, 1993--10 AM-12 Noon--has been set aside for another visit to the John Work Garrett Library of the Evergreen House of the Johns Hopkins University, 4545 N. Charles St. Those of us who visited the library in March '92 appreciated the opportunity to see the beautiful elephant folios as well as Alexander Wilson's books and one or two by John Gould. We realized there were many more books that we were not seeing the time allotted to us, and expressed an interest in returning. As was the case in March '92, the group will be limited to 30. After an introduction, half of the group will look at the books while the other will be taken on a tour of the Evergreen House. The two groups will change places so that all participants will see both the house and the books. Reservations are required. Call Joy Wheeler, 825-1204.

Joy Wheeler

NEW IN THE MUSEUM

Thanks to Bob Rineer, vice-president of the Baltimore Bird Club, we now have the list of birds seen by noted bird observer, Dr. Elliott Coues (1842-1899), while he was Assistant Surgeon, U.S. Army, stationed at Fort McHenry in 1879. Warren Bielenberg, MOS member and ranger at the fort almost ten years ago had told us of the existence of this list and of his intentions to keep a list of his own for comparison, and for possible publication. Unfortunately, Warren was transferred to Delaware Water Gap before he could accomplish this.

The list, as we have it now, is a copy of the microfilm of Coues" records. It is not easy to read, but it is worth the effort if you are as inveterate a reader of bird lists as I am. The birds are listed by the scientific name in use at that time, the common name and a column of remarks: Cathartes aura -- Turkey Buzzard, ....Resident, abundant, or Haliaeetus leucocephalus -- Bald-headed Eagle.....Resident, frequently observed. As you persevere through the list, or only part of the way through, you may determine to do one of two things: more birding at Fort McHenry, further research on Elliott Coues' stay at the fort, or completion of Warren Bielenberg's project. The Elliott Coues list can be found in a legal-sized folder in the book collection in our bird museum.

Joy Wheeler

Towson State University's Department of Biological Sciences is offering its thirteenth travel-study trip to the Galapagos Island and mainland Ecuador from December 30, 1992 to January 22, 1993. The trip will be led by Dr. Richard D. Lainhart, ecology and aquatic biology professor at Towson State, and by Gene Scarpulla, Baltimore Bird Club member, and founder and coordinator of Atlantic Seabirds pelagic cruises.

One week will be spent on the Ecuadorian mainland with Quito as the home-base for each day's activities. The following two weeks will be spent at the various Galapagos Islands with two 12-passenger yachts providing transportation, food, and lodging.

In the Galapagos there are 57 species of resident birds as well as numerous migrants and accidentals. Of the residents, 26 are endemic, found nowhere else on earth. These include the Galapagos Penguin, Flightless Cormorant, Lava Heron, Galapagos hawk, Galapagos Rail, Lava Gull, Galapagos Dove, Large-billed Flycatcher, Galapagos Martin, four species of Galapagos Mockingbirds, and 13 species of Darwin's Finches. In addition to the endemics, an excellent assortment of resident seabirds are present including the Waved Albatross; Hawaiian Petrel; Audubon's Shearwater; White-vented, Band-rumped and Wedge-rumped Storm-petrels; Red-billed Tropicbird; Blue-footed, Masked and Red-footed Boobies; Great and Magnificent Frigatebirds; Swallow-tailed Gull; Sooty Tern; and Brown Noddy. Most species are reasonably tame, offering unsurpassed photographic opportunities.

For additional information, printed material, or to request a videotape loaner of last year's trip, call or write: Dr. Richard D. Lainhart, Dept. of Biological Sciences, Towson State University, Towson MD 21204, (410) 830-2443; or Gene Scarpulla, Atlantic Seabirds Inc., 7906-B Knollwood Rd., Towson MD 21286, (410) 821-0575 (evenings).

Gene Scarpulla

C. DOUGLAS HACKMAN

The Baltimore Bird Club notes with regret the death of C. Douglas Hackman. Doug was for many years an ardent hawk-watcher from his home in Parkville. He helped with Junior Nature Camp as well as being a regular contributor to and assistant editor of MARYLAND BIRDLIFE. We will miss his generously given time and talent. Sincere condolences are extended to his wife and family.

BIRDING AT OREGON RIDGE PARK

A seven sparrow day! In the short space of time between 8 AM and 9:30 there were more birds at Oregon Ridge than I had ever seen. April 10, 1992 started quietly with a good view of an almost motionless pair of Canada Geese, one bird on the nest keeping his eye on me. It took a very short time for the motion of birds, birds, and more birds to quicken and demand my attention in all directions. Over the parking lot woodpeckers were moving noisily from tree to tree, including a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.

I took my usual path up the red trail into the woods. It was rather quiet, but there were six Hermit Thrushes at the top of the hill. In all my birdwatching I have never seen six Hermit Thrushes together in a flock. We are not fortunate enough here in the Piedmont to hear the beautiful song that heralds their nesting. I have heard it in Garrett County and West Virginia. It was worth the trip.

But I'm telling you about sparrows. They began to appear at the quarry. There was no wind that morning though the leaves there seemed to be moving. Four of the "leaves" were Song Sparrows. Four more were White-throated Sparrows. One darker bird, gray-faced with rufous head and rufous patches on the wings, was a Swamp Sparrow. Soon, a larger bird appeared, cinnamon-y on the back with large cinnamon breast spots, a Fox Sparrow. Add one more, a Junco. Five all together. I moved into the meadow where the number of sparrows was overwhelming. Loud and clear from three directions came the rising trills of Field Sparrows. I moved into the historic furnace area. Here the trills I heard were all on the same monotonous pitch of a Chipping Sparrow. Seven sparrow species!

I thought then of Etta Wedge, long-departed chair of the MOS program committee, advising that there were no birds at Oregon Ridge. It was many years later before we included it in the program. We've never been sorry. Hawk and loon flights are not uncommon in season, not to mention the warblers. One of our walks had a Golden Eagle. If any further enticement is necessary, we host Breakfast with the Birds: Saturday, September 26, 7 AM for breakfast, 8 AM for the walk. Please register with Joy Wheeler, 825-1204 or Oregon Ridge Nature Center, 887-1815 by September 22.

Joy Wheeler

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

CHIP NOTES can only be as good as the input it receives. I know our members are doing lots of good birding. Let us hear about it. Send in an article, or a piece of news, or a letter to the editor. It doesn't have to be a lengthy literary masterpiece. A short piece of information may be just what someone wants to know. Let us know about special birds you've seen, good trips you've taken or would like to take, good books you've read, good tapes you've heard, worthy causes you'd like us to support, projects you'd like to pursue...Don't keep it a secret!

Whatever happened to our field trip reports? They have apparently dwindled into oblivion because of misunderstandings by the leaders (including myself) as to who writes them and where to send them. The answer, according to Pete Webb, is that the leaders can write them and send them directly to me as CHIP NOTES editor. Otherwise, they won't get reported. There is no rigid format, but I suggest they be brief summaries of the best species, species total, number of participants, and weather.

I also invite you to contribute some artwork to liven up the newsletter. It would need to have minimal shading to reproduce well. Little birds could be very handy to fill in empty spaces.

Any suggestions or assistance with the brave new world of computerized desk-top publishing are also welcome.

Please do your best to get items for CHIP NOTES to me by the deadline (the first of every odd month from July through March). Items received after the deadline can't receive full consideration, especially if they are long.

Steve Sanford

The migration of hawks is possibly the crowning glory of the fall birding season. From mid-September to mid-November a gradually-changing procession of hawk species can be seen cruising south along mountain ridges and coastal corridors within two or three hours' drive of Baltimore, especially on brisk days of blustery northwest winds that come with the passage of a cold front.

Our BBC program features trips to three hawk-watching locations in October: Waggoner's Gap (Oct 4), Monument Knob (Oct 24), and the incomparable Hawk Mountain (Oct 31). These will be good opportunities to practice what you learn from the Tuesday Cylburn Lecture on October 6 on hawk migration and Identification by one of Maryland's top birders, Rick Blom. (See page 3 for details.)

If you'd like to explore further, Claudia Wild's Finding Birds in the National Capital Area has an excellent summary of places to watch hawks in our area. Here are two spots that are not on our program. They are usually not crowded, and the access is easy:

The Pulpit: This spot, northwest of Mercersburg Pa., about two hours from Baltimore, has an almost 360 degree view, and consequently can be good in many wind conditions. Goshawks and Golden Eagles are quite possible here. It is usually manned by Charlie Brightbill, a retired teacher who is always happy to help novice hawk-watchers flex their wings. The site belongs to a hang-gliding club which accepts hawk-watchers on the summit as long as their ownership is respected. The flights of the hang-gliders are an added attraction to enjoy between hawks. It is on US 30 about three miles west of Ft. Loudon (north of Mercersburg) at the crest of the highest ridge. You can park across from the restaurant at the top. The Pulpit is at the highest spot in the area, about a quarter of a mile up a trail that begins behind the restaurant (i.e. it's several hundred yards southwest of the restaurant.)

Town Hill: If you like leisurely birding, this spot in eastern Allegany County can't be beat. You drive to the top of a ridge, park, get out a folding chair, and watch the hawks go by. Unlike most hawk-watching spots, this one is oriented towards the southeast, so it's best on days with easterly or southerly winds. On Columbus Day last year I was treated there to close encounters with a Peregrine Falcon, a Merlin, and a Golden Eagle. It is usually manned by Jim Paulus or other wonderfully hospitable Allegany County birders.

To get there, take I-70 and I-68 (i.e. the route to Cumberland) for somewhat over two hours. About 5 miles beyond the Allegany County line (or about 7 miles beyond Sideling Hill) exit to Orleans Road and go north. Turn left where it ends onto scenic Route 40 west and go about one mile to the top and park in the area across from the Town Hill Inn.

Good Hawking,

Steve Sanford

HIGHLIGHTS IN THIS ISSUE

We need a pool of volunteers to keep the MOS Museum open during "Open Houses" and other events at Cylburn.

If you can help with this occasionally, please call Graham Egerton, 243-5993, for more information.

An old Chinese saying says "Misfortune never comes singly." That was certainly the case for this year's May Count.

A cool spring retarded migration and denied us some species. Cliff Swallows, for example, which are normal at certain spots by May Count, just hadn't arrived; and we almost missed Cuckoos! May Count day was cool and somewhat rainy. Many of our counters who regularly produce unique species were unavailable this year. My efforts to get coverage for Hart-Miller Island fell through at the last minute. Consequently, our species count of 159 was low compared to previous years.

But it was not all gloom and doom. The highlights of the count were a Northern Goshawk and a Brewster's Warbler found by the Lake Roland-Cylburn party under the direction of Ben Yokel (who regrettably has moved away to Minnesota) and Peggy Bohanan. The assortment of warblers overall was quite respectable too.

Many thanks to all participants, especially to our area leaders Brent Byers, John Canoles, Karen Morley, and Karen Skuldt.

Here is the list:

COMMON LOON          3
P-B GREBE            1
HORNED GREBE         1
D-C CORMORANT      138
GRT BLUE HERON      60
GREAT EGRET          1
SNOWY EGRET          1
CATTLE EGRET         1
GR-BCK HERON        11
BLK-CRWN NT-HERON    2
YEL-CRWN NT-HERON    1
CANADA GOOSE        52
WOOD DUCK           33
BLACK DUCK           1
MALLARD            181
BL-WNG TEAL          2
COM GOLDENEYE        1
RD-BRSTD MERGANSER   3
BLACK VULTURE       15
TURKEY VULTURE      87
OSPREY              16
BALD EAGLE           1
SHARP-SHIN HAWK      1
N GOSHAWK            1
RED-SHOULD HAWK     23
BRD-WNG HAWK         5
RED-TAILED HAWK     24
AMER KESTREL        13
PEREGRINE FALCON     2
RNG-NCK PHEASANT     3
N BOBWHITE           2
SEMIPALMTD PLOVER    5
KILLDEER            27
GRTR YELLOWLEGS      8
LSR YELLOWLEGS       2
SOLITARY SANDPIPER  24
SPOTTED SANDPIPER   30
SEMIPALM SANDPIPER   5
LEAST SANDPIPER      9
COM SNIPE            6
 AMER WOODCOCK       2
LAUGHING GULL      207
BONAPARTES GULL      1
RING-BILLED GULL   132
HERRING GULL        68
GREAT BLK-BK GULL   11
CASPIAN TERN         4
FORSTERS TERN        7
LEAST TERN           5
ROCK DOVE          359
MOURNING DOVE      233
BLK-BILL CUCKOO      3
YEL-BILLED CUCKOO    1
BARRED OWL           4
COM NIGHTHAWK        1
CHUCK-WILLS-WIDOW    1
WHIP-POOR-WILL       3
CHIMNEY SWIFT      149
RB-TH HUMMINGBIRD    9
BELTED KINGFISHER   16
RED-BEL WOODPECKER 119
DOWNY WOODPECKER    68
HAIRY WOODPECKER     4
N FLICKER           84
PILEATED WOODPECKR   4
E WOOD-PEWEE         6
ACADIAN FLYCATCHER  13
EASTERN PHOEBE      53
GR CR FLYCATCHER    24
E KINGBIRD          58
PURPLE MARTIN       23
TREE SWALLOW        28
N RGH-WNG SWALLOW   92
BANK SWALLOW        22
BARN SWALLOW       372
BLUE JAY           267
AMER CROW          351
FISH CROW            7
CAROLINA CHICKADEE 160
TUFTED TITMOUSE    116
 WHT-BRSTD NUTHATCH 18
BROWN CREEPER        1
CAROLINA WREN      158
HOUSE WREN         107
MARSH WREN           5
RUBY-CRWN KINGLET   16
BL-GR GNATCATCHER  182
EASTERN BLUEBIRD    54
VEERY               26
SWAINSONS THRUSH     2
HERMIT THRUSH        1
WOOD THRUSH        149
AMERICAN ROBIN     698
GRAY CATBIRD       277
N MOCKINGBIRD       99
BROWN THRASHER      17
CEDAR WAXWING      139
EUROPEAN STARLING  960
WHITE-EYED VIREO    81
SOLITARY VIREO       5
YEL-THRTD VIREO      9
WARBLING VIREO       3
RED-EYED VIREO     113
BLUE-WNGD WARBLER   58
BREWSTERS WARBLER    1
TENNESSEE WARBLER    6
NASHVILLE WARBLER   22
NORTHERN PARULA     74
YELLOW WARBLER      93
CHESTNUT-SD WARB    37
MAGNOLIA WARBLER     8
CAPE MAY WARBLER    10
BLK-TH BL WARBLER   74
MYRTLE WARBLER     369
BL-TH GRN WARBLER   50
BLACKBURNIAN WARB   10
YEL-THRTD WARBLER    8
PINE WARBLER         2
PRARIE WARBLER      40
PALM WARBLER         8
 CERULEAN WARBLER    2
BLACKPOLL WARBLER    1
BLK & WT WARBLER    40
AMERICAN REDSTART   72
PROTHONOTARY WARB    3
WORM-EAT WARBLER    14
OVENBIRD            86
N WATERTHRUSH        9
LA WATERTHRUSH      17
KENTUCKY WARBLER     9
COM YELLOWTHROAT   180
HOODED WARBLER      17
WILSONS WARBLER      4
CANADA WARBLER      11
YEL-BRSTD CHAT       4
SCARLET TANAGER     52
N CARDINAL         448
ROSE-BRST GROSBEAK  17
BLUE GROSBEAK        1
INDIGO BUNTING      25
RUFOUS-SD TOWHEE   109
CHIPPING SPARROW   101
FIELD SPARROW       69
SAVANNAH SPARROW     6
GRASSHOPPR SPARROW   1
SONG SPARROW       177
SWAMP SPARROW       14
WHT-THRTD SPARROW  425
WHT-CRWN SPARROW     2
BOBOLINK           112
RED-WNG BLACKBIRD  665
EASTERN MEADOWLARK  10
COMMON GRACKLE     654
BRWN-HD COWBIRD    164
ORCHARD ORIOLE      10
BALTIMORE ORIOLE    87
HOUSE FINCH        285
AMER GOLDFINCH     512
HOUSE SPARROW      251

PARTICIPANTS: John Barber, Peggy Bohanan, M Broyles, Brent Byers, Mary-Jo Campbell, John Canoles, Roland Canoles, John & Lettie Cullom, John Barber, Joanne Dreyer, Graham Egerton, Muffin Evander, Sara Franklin, Gail Frantz, Shirley Geddes, Shiras Guion, Mel Hellert, Jim & Jane Highsaw, Sukon Kanchanaraksa, Elliott Kirschbaum, Dolly Leonig, Henry Leskinner, Margaret Mays, Michele Melia, Karen Morley, Mark Pemburn, Patsy Perlman, Mac Plant, Linda Prentice, Bob Rineer, Art Rogers, Brian Rollefink, Terry & Roberta Ross, Nancy Rowe, Steve Sanford, Karen Skuldt, Eddie Slaughter, Chris Slaughter, Ed Smith, Nancy Smith, Stephania Sommerman, Debbie Terry, John Thaden, Nancy Thaden, Elizabeth Thompson, Robin Todd, Joy Wheeler, Ben Yokel.

Steve Sanford, Compiler

Please note the following corrections to the Membership Directory issued with the last CHIP NOTES:

The Covered Dish Supper is on Sunday January 17, not Tuesday.

Roberta Ross' official title is now "Membership Secretary," not "Financial Secretary."

FLORIDA

Every time I visit Mom and Dad in Fort Myers Florida, I vow to see a Painted Bunting. It wasn't until my fifth trip that it happened.

On February 4th I visited Corkscrew Swamp. There I saw my first Great-crested Flycatcher and Chuck-Will's-Widow. Also swarming through the swamp were Palm Warblers, Common Yellowthroats, Pileated Woodpeckers, a Red-shouldered Hawk and two gators (they weren't swarming, however). One of the guides had zoomed her scope in on one of almost 900 Wood Stork nests where young were being tended. About noon, I completed the boardwalk and perched on a bench just north of the gatehouse. Within minutes two green female Painted Buntings appeared followed by a brilliant male. Pictures don't do him justice! This was probably one of my most rewarding, sought-after birding moments! I looked around, but there was no one to tell.

On the 5th, I took a Manatee boat ride and saw about a dozen Manatees. I have always wanted to jump in and swim with them! The next day I visited a site where Burrowing Owls were reputed to hang out. They were there... about a dozen in various locations, but predominantly sunning themselves on mounds of displaced dirt. I also visited Ding Darling on Sanibel Island, where I saw the obligatory but delightful Roseate Spoonbill. There were also gads of herons and egrets, including my first Reddish Egret.

My action plan: Go back for Mangrove Cuckoo.

Betsy Taylor

During the month of July 1992 I visited Copenhagen, Denmark and went on a cruise of the Norwegian fjords. I took with me Jim Flegg's Field Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe, published by Cornell University Press. I recommend it highly. It has over 200 pages of photographs plus geographic maps and excellent descriptions of bird appearance and behavior.

In Copenhagen I saw my first Magpie, Woodpigeon, and Great Tit. In the Geiranger Fjord I saw my first Oystercatcher as well as Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Common Tern, House Martins, and an interesting bird that had the body of a Mockingbird and the head of a Nuthatch. This turned out to be a White Wagtail. A Reed Bunting was spotted in an orchard. I saw Herring Gulls galore as well as Black-backed Gulls. The Blackheaded Gull was seen in Oslo and Copenhagen. It is really chocolate brown. Hooded Crows were seen in Oslo and Bergen.

While all these birds are very common in their respective locations, they were mostly new to me and added greatly to the pleasure of seeing the fjords.

Irma Weinstein

Joel A. Allen devoted his life to being a museum curator, first at the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard and then at the Museum of Natural History. He served as an editor for the Bulletin of the Nutall Ornithological Club, The Auk, and the Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. He is credited with authoring 1450 technical papers, and his work at the American Museum of Natural History earned him the title of "Dean of the Scientific Staff." However, Joel Allen for two other distinctions. He is acknowledged as the father of the American Ornithologists' Union and for the formulation of Allen's Rule.

Allen's Rule was generalized based on years of studying animal specimens. Simply stated, birds living in colder climates tend to have shorter bills, feet, and wings than their counterparts who live in the warmer parts of the country. A 1% difference in wing length could be correlated with a 2 degree difference in north-south latitude. The ecological significance of this was that heat is lost through the appendages of an organism. The smaller these appendages are, the less heat is lost. Thus, for birds living in a colder climate, it would to their benefit if they had smaller feet, bills, and wings.

While Joel Allen was not known as a public speaker and had little to do with popular nature writing of his time, his influence in the scientific community was immense and is attributed to having stabilized the scientific nomenclature for American ornithology.

Joseph M Lewandowski

The Maryland Rare and Endangered Species Calendar from the Department of Natural Resources are again available for $5.00 each. Contact Earl Palmer, 252-6457 if you'd like one.

This is a summary of the activities of the various committees of the Board of Directors during the 1991-1992 Bird Club Year.

The HOSPITALITY COMMITTEE under the leadership of Betsy Taylor and ably assisted by Brent and Mary Byers, Dot Clark, Anneke Davis, Graham Egerton, Patsy Perlman, Debbie Terry, and Joy Wheeler did a great job of furnishing refreshments for our monthly lecture series. Betsy's coordination of the "Pot Luck" dinner was most successful as indicated by the variety and quantity of food served.

Maureen Fahey, our REPRESENTATIVE TO CYLBURN ARBORETUM, reported that there were more visitors at the museums during their monthly open houses and other occasions during the year. The president of the arboretum has been most appreciative of Maureen's help.

The BIRD FEEDING project at Cylburn Park, under the direction of Mitchell Gerber, distributed 925 pounds of feed from October through May. Filling the feeders three times a week were Jeanette Cabeen, Priscilla Howard, Irma Weinstein, and Frank and Hester Witchey. The group did not dispense as much feed as usual due to the theft of two feeders. These feeders are the center of bird observations by the school program and other visitors to the many Cylburn trails.

The DOROTHY BLAKE MARTIN FUND, chaired by Karen Morley, reports that $2000 was donated to the coalition to preserve Black Marsh and $500 to pay for the school bus transportation fund (second half of the funding previously requested). A balance of $35,989.40 is on hand as of April 30, 1992.

Besides the chair, the committee consisted of Anneke Davis, Dick Gibbs, Elliott Kirschbaum, Barbara Larrabee, and Joy Wheeler.

The SCHOOL PROGRAM and MUSEUM, with Patsy Perlman as Chair, reports that this school year went very well, and that some inroads into the Baltimore City Public School System were made. The Dorothy Blake Martin Fund provided bus transportation for six city schools. In all, 43 classes from 30 schools made a total of 1926 children attending the program. A count of the adults with the classes was not made.

Patsy Perlman and Joy Wheeler gave a workshop on birds for elementary school children at the Peale Museum on September 29, 1991 with 15 children present.

On March 31, 1992 Joy Wheeler led the workshop for the Volunteer School Guides with 17 people in attendance. Many thanks go to all our guides for a job well done. They are Nancy Abrams, Candy Andrejeski, Peggy Bohanan, Bill Bridgeland, John Brooks, Peggy Cluster, Dot Clark, Mimi Cooper, Anne Allen Dandy, Walter Dandy, Lynn DeWitt, Phyllis Gerber, Josie Gray, Earl Palmer, Patsy Perlman, Ann Sauerborn, and Joy Wheeler.

Peggy Cluster, Patsy Perlman, and Joy Wheeler have been working throughout the year in the museums. Several changes and additions have been made to the exhibits. The MOS Wall Exhibit on the second floor has been kept up-to-date by Joy Wheeler with the current seasons and our programs.

The LECTURE AND EQUIPMENT COMMITTEE had an active year giving 50 talks to various garden clubs, nursing homes, schools, scout troops, senior centers, and various private and summer-school trips to Cylburn Park. Using slides, bird mounts, tapes, and the museum, Dot Clark, Earl Palmer, Patsy perlman, Pete Webb, and Joy Wheeler reached approximately 1500 people spreading the message about birding and the need for the conservation of Maryland's natural resources.

Mary Gruver-Byers, Chair of the PUBLICITY COMMITTEE, sent notices of the club's activities to Maryland Pennysaver Group, City Paper, Baltimore Magazine, Times Publishing Group, the Morning and Evening Sun, and The Avenue. We received excellent coverage from the Pennysaver and the recreation section of The Evening Sun. The Avenue ran an article on the BBC and its involvement with the environmental community and various field trips. These articles resulted in many phone calls regarding our organization. The Publicity Committee also held a contest to chose a design for an official logo of the organization. A committee of three declared Don Culbertson's design of a Baltimore Oriole as the winner. Atlantic Seabirds donated an award of free passes to Don for a future pelagic trip from Ocean City. Our thanks to all members who participated.

Our representative to the SANCTUARY COMMITTEE and the Coalition to Preserve Black Marsh, Brent Byers, reports that we had members attending the three working weekends at Irish Grove (fall and spring) and Carey Run. Repairs to the buildings and walkways, and pruning were accomplished. Irish Grove has been expanded by the addition of three individual plots, all next to the present property.

The Coalition to Preserve Black Marsh continues to strive for reduced development of the Black Marsh (now North Point State Park). The DNR wants to construct a boating facility, an amphitheater, multipurpose building, outdoor cafe, and large parking

lots adjacent to the shoreline. A legal battle to preserve the area in its natural state is underway. The Martin Fund has contributed to the cause.

During the 1991-92 year, the CONSERVATION Chair, Anneke Davis, has actively represented the BBC in the Maryland conservation Council which has been involved with such issues as the development of Black Marsh in Baltimore County, the re-authorization of the Clean Air Act, and the proposed redefinition of wetlands. Anneke also kept the club apprised of the progress of Project Open Space, of the activities and projects being considered by the Department of Natural Resources, pending bills before the state legislature, possible reorganization of the Baltimore City Administration (which could have directly affected the BBC), development regarding the dam at Lake Roland, and many local zoning issues. A major conservation goal for the coming year is for our organization to participate in a program for better legal protection for city park property and more consequential citizen participation in its development.

The PUBLICATION COMMITTEE, chaired by Karen Skuldt, produced and distributed five newsletters, some with enclosures. Dottee Palmer was the editor/productionist.

Enclosures included a membership list with Board Members, program and field trip information, membership questionnaire, a ballot, and a membership envelope.

Contributors to the newsletter included Burton Alexander, Brent Byers, Mary Gruver-Byers, Joseph Lewandowski, Bertie MacGregor, Karen Morley, Earl Palmer, Steve Sanford, Gene Scarpulla, Lester Simon, Debbie Terry, and Joy Wheeler.

Mailings were coordinated by Steve Sanford ably assisted by Rick and Judy Fleddermann, Earl Palmer, Terry and Roberta Ross, Karen Skuldt, and Betsy Taylor.

The NOMINATING COMMITTEE presented its slate of officers, directors, and state directors which were voted upon and elected unanimously. Roberta Ross and Gene Scarpulla were the two Nominating Committee candidates who received the highest number of votes to serve for two years (1992-1994). Karen Skuldt was the committee Chair.

The records of the TREASURER have been audited and found to be in order. Our receipts were $11,328.43 with expenses of $9,309.06, leaving a balance of $2,129.37.

Our membership was 500 including all categories.

Earl Palmer, President

OOPS!

A YOUNG EAGLE AT LOCH RAVEN

REMINDER: It's time to sign up for Rare Books at Evergreen. See "Activities."

The nominating committee has met and is pleased to announce the following slate of officers for the 1993-1994 year. The ballot will appear in the April-May issue of Chip Notes along with voting instructions.

TRIP TO NEW ZEALAND

APRIL IN MONTANA

There's been a new face on Cylburn's staff since November 2, 1992, Maureen Wood Kief. Her title: naturalist with speciality in plant ecology. She made her first visit to Cylburn Arboretum in June 1992 when she came to apply for the job left vacant by Glenda Weber's move to Frederick two years before. Maureen's first day on the job made it obvious to anyone who met her that she is the right person, as witnessed by her smile, her friendliness, her willingness to answer questions as well as ask them.

On January 15, 1993 two wildlife biologists from the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Don Schwab and Tom Gwynn were birding in Northampton County on Virginia's Eastern Shore. Stopping by a roadside near a flooded soybean field, they heard an unusual repetitive call from a line of willows and soon spotted a brilliant red and dark flycatcher. They quickly identified it as a Vermilion Flycatcher, Pyrocephalus rubinus, and concluded that it was a subadult male. This is the first state record for this tropical flycatcher. Since its discovery, the bird has been seen by dozens of birders.

Welcome to another year of birding with the Baltimore Bird Club. As I take over as President, I would like to thank all those who have worked so hard in the past to make this organization what it is today. With this year's materials you have received the 1993-94 BBC booklet which contains information about the organization and programs for the upcoming year. This is a format that had been used in the past, and a group of dedicated people volunteered their time and effort to plan and put this information together for you. Congratulations are in order for their efforts. As has been our tradition in recent years you will continue to be advised of meetings, fieldtrips, and updates in the Chip Notes.

Something new has been added this year: We are suggesting that a regularly scheduled walk be held at Cylburn each Sunday morning during migrations. These walks will not have a designated leader, but will offer an opportunity to share a birding experience with other members.

Please feel free to direct any comments or suggestions to me about the organization or how to improve it. We are still in need of volunteers to fill committee positions and your help will be greatly appreciated. I hope that you will find the programs of interest. Please participate as actively as you can.

Bob Rineer

We are offering a Leadership Training Seminar on Tuesday, September 14, 7:30 PM at Cylburn. While some birds, sadly, may be diminishing in numbers, birdwatcher numbers, happily, are on the rise. It is our goal to enlist as many of these new birders as we can into the BBC. (Birdwatchers are known to be active in environmental preservation and the environment needs all the help it can get.) We believe that sensitive leadership within the club and out in the field has always been an important key to our success. To ensure our continued success we are offering an evening session where three of our most experienced leaders, Jean Worthley, Ben Poscover and Jim Peters will present some practical methods on how to enable a group of birders to see all the birds they want to see on any given outing, and how to do this as comfortably and congenially as the habitat allows.

We extend a special invitation to all leaders listed in this year's program, as well as to those who have led trips in the past and to those who would be agreeable to leading trips in the future. Our seminar leaders have had many experiences with MOS (some amusing, some not so amusing) and have all had careers where their leadership skills have been honed ta a state of perfection, not to mention their bird identification skills. We predict that you will come away begging to lead your favorite field trip.

Please register your intent to attend the seminar with Joy Wheeler, 825-1204, so that we can estimate the numbers of materials needed. However, don't stay away just because you haven't registered.

Joy Wheeler

In our May 1993 meeting the Board of Directors voted to support a motion to provide funds to send five children to a one-week session of the Carrie Murray Outdoor Education Center summer day camp. The children were identified through the office of Elaine Amos of the Baltimore City Health Department, Sandtown-Winchester area of Baltimore. The Board felt that this allocation of funds was appropriate to help meet our goals for education and outreach. the CMOEC is well-equipped to offer programs of outdoor education in Baltimore City's largest and most natural park, Leakin Park. Corinna Parks, director of the CMOEC, is well known to many of us from her years as naturalist at Cylburn. The children will be in good hands.

Joy Wheeler

May 1, 1993 SEVERN RUN - FT SMALLWOOD. Weather: Sunny, high 70's. 11 participants. Leader: Pete Webb. 55 species.

The birding was so good at the Nursery Rd Park & Ride, where we met, that we had to force ourselves to get on with the actual trip! (Northern Oriole, Osprey, Wood Duck and Black-crowned Night-Heron).

Severn Run was fairly productive with some good looks at Hooded Warblers, a Scarlet Tanager, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers on the nest, and several Parula's. The only true migrants were Yellow-rumped Warblers. One sighting caused much speculation: a groundhog wedged into the top branches of a slender sapling, 20 feet in the air. How did he get there? His own power? Dropped by a careless raptor? We moved next to Ft. Smallwood. The walk around the pond produced a singing Brown Thrasher and some very nicely plumaged Savannah Sparrows. Hawk watching was rather slow -- probably due to the wind direction (Southeasterly). Some close approaches by Cooper's Hawks gave a few moments of excitement. Ft. Smallwood is getting perhaps the best coverage in many years with at least one expert hawk watcher on duty every day this Spring.

MP

May 16 -- C & O CANAL: Sunny, temperatures around 75-80. 15-20 participants, including many new faces. Leader: Pete Webb. 75 species. 12 warblers.

Another pleasant weekend made migrants scarce. There were a few Canada Warblers, and Blackpolls. Interestingly these two were rather reversed this year. Blackpolls, normally late, were very thick since early May. Canadas, normally early, seemed to have just become fairly thick. The best bird was a Prothonotary Warbler that posed in clear view. A rump group went west to the Poolesville area, where we heard a Vesper sparrow as a thunder storm was approaching, and we saw a beautiful Magnolia Warbler, rather out of place in a hedgerow in the middle of farmlands.

SS

May 22 -- BOMBAY HOOK: Pleasant 70 degree temps with moderate breeze to keep the mosquitoes in check. About 25 participants. Leader: Pete Webb. 84 species.

The shorebirds at the refuge were not too numerous but the quality was great. Gene Scarpulla located a Curlew Sandpiper and some White-rumped Sandpipers. There were also a number of handsome Avocets and Black-necked Stilts. As we watched, a Merlin swept in and snatched up an unfortunate little peep for lunch. Port Mahon Road had a good collection of shorebirds, including a few distant Red-necked Phalaropes and some Red Knots. The last major stop was Pickering Beach which has a new public-access pathway to the beach. The concentration of shorebirds there, mainly Semi-palmated Sandpipers, Dunlin, Ruddy Turnstones and Red Knots, was truly remarkable -- probably the best we've had on a BBC field trip for many years.

SS

May 29, 1993 BIG DAY - BALTIMORE TO NEW JERSEY. Some AM rain, then clear and sunny later. 60° - 75° . 11 participants. Leader: Steve Sanford. 111 species.

Our first stop was Susquehanna State Park. Yellow-throated and Kentucky Warblers were heard as well as Ovenbird and American Redstart. The group stopped to admire a good-looking Blue-winged Warbler "singing" from a tree top. We were able to 'scope him for quite a while. By contrast, a Yellow-breasted Chat refused to show himself despite earnest searching. Other stars were an acrobatic Yellow-throated Vireo and some brilliant Yellow Warblers.

We quit the Park around 10:00 and made the trek to Brigantine. Herons and shorebirds were available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes - from Least Sandpipers to Great Egrets. The number and quality of birds was heartening despite the lateness of the season. Our trip tally ran over 100 species within an hour. We had several good sightings of uncommon Gull-billed Terns. Unfortunately the 25 Whimbrels that were there the previous weekend were gone. Great excitement was provided by unusually good looks at several Clapper Rails on the nest. Species #101 for the day was a small group of Seaside Sparrows, singing and flitting among the marsh reeds. Number 102 was a Barn Owl. Some sharp eyes spotted it roosting in one of the newer hacking boxes near the end of the drive. The scarcely-visible owl occasionally lifted its head just enough for one or the other of us to tick it off on our life lists.

After the sun set, the diehards braved the flies and mosquitos to "grunt" for Virginia Rails (in vain), and listen (successfully) for the calls of Chuck-Will's-Widows and Whip-Poor-Wills.

MP

Mark Pemburn and Steve Sanford

The Baltimore 1993 May Count was held on May 8, 1993. It was a beautiful day - sunny, with mid-day temperatures about 75 to 80 degrees. The apparently inevitable consequence was that the birding was pretty slow. Warbler numbers in particular were low, with some major "misses" such as Yellow-throated, Prothonotary, Bay-breasted, and Tennessee Warblers. Another sad "miss" was Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, which has been regular at Lake Roland but was only rarely seen there this year due to the reconstruction of the dam. The steady decline of Bluebirds, Pheasants, and Bobwhites continues. Bobolinks and Swallows were also low, especially Barn Swallows. On the other hand a few warblers were notably high, such as Yellow-breasted Chat and Blackpolls, which were early and numerous this year. Some other species that were substantially up this year were Blue Jays, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Towhees, Catbirds, and Wood Thrushes. We had a total of 169 species.

Many thanks to our 71 participants. I especially thank you for getting your lists in to me so promptly without my having to prod you. Special thanks to Bob Dixon for counting at Hart-Miller Island, which added 15 species to the total. Also special thanks to Mary and Brent Byers for hosting an informal tally rally in addition to doing some heavy-duty birding.

If you would like a copy of my compilation of the May Count records for Baltimore for 1989 through 1993, send me a stamped self-addressed envelope (legal sized) with a request. Here is this year's list:

COMMON LOON           8
D-C CORMORANT       110
GRT BLUE HERON       69
GREAT EGRET           1
SNOWY EGRET           2
CATTLE EGRET          2
GR-BCK HERON          4
BLK-CRWN NT-HERON     1
CANADA GOOSE        105
WOOD DUCK            23
GR-WNG TEAL          25
BLACK DUCK            1
MALLARD             145
BL-WNG TEAL           1
GADWALL               7
CANVASBACK            5
RING-NCK DUCK         1
LESSER SCAUP          1
COM MERGANSER         2
RUDDY DUCK          121
BLACK VULTURE         1
TURKEY VULTURE       60
OSPREY               22
BALD EAGLE            3
N HARRIER             1
SHARP-SHIN HAWK       3
RED-SHOULD HAWK      20
BRD-WNG HAWK          3
RED-TAILED HAWK      14
AMER KESTREL          2
PEREGRINE FALCON      4
RNG-NCK PHEASANT      2
WILD TURKEY           2
N BOBWHITE            2
VIRGINIA RAIL         6
AMER COOT             1
BLK-BEL PLOVER       14
SEMIPALMTD PLOVER    64
KILLDEER             36
GRTR YELLOWLEGS       2
LSR YELLOWLEGS        2
SOLITARY SANDPIPER   12
SPOTTED SANDPIPER    33
 SEMIPALM SANDPIPER   7
LEAST SANDPIPER     124
WHT-RMP SANDPIPER     1
DUNLIN                7
STILT SANDPIPER       1
SH-BILL DOWITCHER     1
AMER WOODCOCK         1
LAUGHING GULL        25
BONAPARTES GULL       1
RING-BILLED GULL    143
HERRING GULL         49
GREAT BLK-BK GULL    27
CASPIAN TERN         57
COMMON TERN           3
FORSTERS TERN         3
ROCK DOVE           224
MOURNING DOVE       240
BLK-BILL CUCKOO       1
YEL-BILLED CUCKOO     5
GREAT HORNED OWL      3
BARRED OWL            5
CHUCK-WILLS-WIDOW     1
WHIP-POOR-WILL        8
CHIMNEY SWIFT       147
RB-TH HUMMINGBIRD    20
BELTED KINGFISHER    10
RED-HD WOODPECKER     1
RED-BEL WOODPECKER  108
DOWNY WOODPECKER     42
HAIRY WOODPECKER     15
N FLICKER            55
PILEATED WOODPECKR   18
E WOOD-PEWEE         21
ACADIAN FLYCATCHER   40
WILLOW FLYCATCHER     1
LEAST FLYCATCHER      1
EASTERN PHOEBE       26
GR CR FLYCATCHER     37
E KINGBIRD           90
PURPLE MARTIN        29
TREE SWALLOW         10
N RGH-WNG SWALLOW    64
 BANK SWALLOW        10
CLIFF SWALLOW        10
BARN SWALLOW        288
BLUE JAY            854
AMER CROW           356
FISH CROW            13
CARO CHICKADEE      119
TUFTED TITMOUSE     146
WHT-BRST NUTHATCH    21
CAROLINA WREN       111
HOUSE WREN           77
MARSH WREN           63
RUBY-CRWN KINGLET     1
B-G GNATCATCHER     136
EASTERN BLUEBIRD     37
VEERY                29
SWAINSONS THRUSH      5
WOOD THRUSH         160
AMERICAN ROBIN      422
GRAY CATBIRD        339
N MOCKINGBIRD        75
BROWN THRASHER       11
AMER PIPIT            1
CEDAR WAXWING        39
EURO STARLING       684
WHITE-EYED VIREO     96
YEL-THRTD VIREO      14
WARBLING VIREO       10
RED-EYED VIREO      254
BLUE-WNGD WARBLER     4
TENNESSEE WARBLER     1
NASHVILLE WARBLER     1
NORTHERN PARULA      64
YELLOW WARBLER       91
CHESTNUT-SD WARB      5
MAGNOLIA WARBLER     10
CAPE MAY WARBLER      1
BLK-TH BL WARBLER    33
MYRTLE WARBLER      149
BL-TH GRN WARBLER    19
BLACKBURNIAN WARB     2
PINE WARBLER          5
 PRAIRIE WARBLER     14
BLACKPOLL WARBLER    40
CERULEAN WARBLER      4
BLK & WT WARBLER     37
AMERICAN REDSTART    87
WORM-EAT WARBLER      6
OVENBIRD             96
N WATERTHRUSH         1
LA WATERTHRUSH       10
KENTUCKY WARBLER     14
MOURNING WARBLER      1
COM YELLOWTHROAT    141
HOODED WARBLER        7
WILSONS WARBLER       3
CANADA WARBLER        9
YEL-BRSTD CHAT       21
SUMMER TANAGER        1
SCARLET TANAGER      54
N CARDINAL          301
ROSE-BR GROSBEAK     24
BLUE GROSBEAK         4
INDIGO BUNTING       53
RUFOUS-SD TOWHEE    129
CHIPPING SPARROW     47
FIELD SPARROW         9
SAVANNAH SPARROW      1
GRASSHOPPR SPARROW    2
SONG SPARROW        136
SWAMP SPARROW        24
WHT-THRTD SPARROW    40
WHT-CRWN SPARROW      1
DARK-EYED JUNCO       4
BOBOLINK             84
RED-WG BLCKBRD      735
EAST MEADOWLARK      10
COMMON GRACKLE      425
BRWN-HD COWBIRD     145
ORCHARD ORIOLE       19
BALTIMORE ORIOLE     89
HOUSE FINCH         331
AMER GOLDFINCH      357
HOUSE SPARROW       130

Baltimore 1993 May Count Participants

Paula Balser, John Barber, Julia Barber, Peg Barber, Peggy Bohanan, Mary Brown, Clare Brunner, Brent & Mary Byers, Mary-Jo Campbell, Todd Campbell, Betty Christopher, Bob Christopher, Martin Cribb, Herb Cromwell, Ralph Cullison, Bob Dixon, Joanne Dreyer, Graham Egerton, Muffin Evander, Shirley Geddes, Theresa Guckert, Dottie Gustafson, Betty Anne Hackett, Jane Highsaw, Jim Highsaw, Joann Hoover, Rodney Hoover, Agnes Hostettler, Kye Jenkins, Sarah Johnson, Ken Jones, Sukon Kanchanaraksa, Elliott Kirschbaum, Dolly Leonig, Paul Noell, Linda Panitz, Patsy Perlman, Mary Plaine, Mac Plant, Linda Prentice, Anne Redfern, Bob Rineer, Brian Rollefink, Alan Ross, Barbara Ross, James Ross, Roberta & Terry Ross, Nancy Rowe, Blaine Rush, Steve Sanford, Gene Scarpulla, Mary Shock, Steve Simon, Chris & Eddie Slaughter, Ed Smith, Nancy Smith, Catherine Smoot & Clauson Smoot, Stephanie Sommerman, Debbie Terry, Elizabeth Thompson, Mary Beth Tierney, Robin & Will Tress, Pete Webb, Joy Wheeler, Roger Wood, Ben Yokel. Total: 71 participants.

Steve Sanford - Compiler

The Loch Raven watershed, city-owned public land within Baltimore County, is once again threatened with development, this time with the expansion of the Pine Ridge Golf Course from 18 holes to 39 holes. The privately-owned Baltimore Municipal Golf Corporation (BMGC), which operates PRGC, has been conducting a 6-month feasibility study of the planned expansion. Of course, it's feasible. There's money to be made and there's plenty of space. But at what price? The clearcut deforestation of 100 acres of the watershed east and south of the Dulaney Valley Road Bridge as well as an area south of the current entrance to the course are some of the areas to be sacrificed. Just how much will Baltimore City's treasury benefit from leasing this land to a private corporation? How easily will Baltimore County's zoning regulations be circumvented by promises from the profit-making BMGC? How will the water quality be affected by the disturbance during construction as well as the disturbance from pesticides and fertilizer? We are all aware of the current trends in the reduction of the numbers of bird species noted in the wooded areas of the Loch Raven watershed, especially wood warblers. Can you imagine the impact of a 100-acre clearcut, just the beginning of the degradation of this rich area of the watershed?

• You can help in three ways:

1 - Write to Mayor Schmoke stating your reasons for opposing the golf course at this site in your own words. (Address below)

Send copies to:

2 - Spread the word to friends, neighbors and groups.

3 - Become a member of the Watershed Protection Coalition by sending $5.00 for individual, $7.50 for family, or $25 for groups to Watershed Protection Coalition, P.O. Box 212, Timonium MD 21094-0212 (Telephone 252-5515), and consider a donation to help us with the expenses of publication and mailings.

Joy Wheeler

The Dry Tortugas are a group of keys 68 miles west of Key West, Florida. They belong to the U.S., and they are a part of the Fort Jefferson National Monument. Access to them is limited to seaplanes and boats. Camping is permitted.

I spent a weekend in April aboard the "Yankee Freedom," a 100 foot vessel, with a group sponsored by Florida Nature Tours. The Dry Tortugas have fabulous birding in April and May, with two different bird populations to study. Some of the keys are nesting sites for Terns, Boobies, Frigate Birds, and other sea birds. These tiny islets are also landing spots for migrating warblers and other birds heading north for the summer. Spring storms bring fallouts of birds you may never see any other way.

In three exhilarating days of intensive birding I saw Sooty, Roseate, and Bridled Terns. There were nesting Frigate Birds, Brown Boobies, Masked Boobies, and one immature Red-footed Booby which caused great excitement in the group.

Land birds seen included Indigo and Painted Buntings, Blue Grosbeaks, and Scarlet and Summer Tanagers. Warblers included Swainson's, Worm-eating, Tennessee, Yellow-throated, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Kentucky, and Hooded. We saw Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, a Short-eared Owl, and a Yellow-billed Cuckoo. A dozen Broad-winged Hawks circled overhead; a Kestrel flew from one end of the fort to another; a Merlin perched in a palm tree.

These birds were seen close-up! No straining or craning the neck to see a distant flicker of wings. Garden Key was literally crawling with birds, clearly visible without binoculars. It was an experience not to be missed.

Irma Weinstein

The ballots have been counted for 93-94 BBC officers, directors, and nominating committee. A total of 40 ballots were counted (8.8% of membership). Eighteen additional ballots were disqualified - most for not having the member's signature on the outside of the envelope. The following people have been elected to the respective positions:

OFFICERS:

President Bob Rineer

Vice-president Sukon Kanchanaraksa

Recording Secretary Dottee Palmer

Corresponding Secretary Dot Clark

Treasurer Bob Wood

Membership Secretary Roberta Ross

DIRECTORS - for a term of 2 years, expiring in 1995:

STATE DIRECTORS - for a term of 1 year:

NOMINATING COMMITTEE: for a term of 2 years, expiring in 1995

All of you who scoffed at the announcement at the March 1993 Annual Meeting about the planned attempts to attract Purple Martins to the Purple Martin house at Cylburn's Perennial Garden were entirely correct. Playing the Purple Martin dawn song tape one half-hour before sunrise each day (well, almost each day) brought in very few sightings of the birds, much less serious house-hunting sub-adult male Martins.

The team has learned a lot, though. It has seen a lot of other wonderful birds, and has had the unforgetable experience of many sunrises at Cylburn with a few full-moon settings as a bonus. The planet Venus has kept a watchful eye over it all, and if I were more of a Greek classicist I would pledge offerings to her for next year's success.

I cannot predict where Venus will be next year in March or April when we get the tape out again, and I know better than to predict next year's chances of attracting Purple Martins to Cylburn. But we will be trying. Join us. By then we will have had the benefit of November's Tuesday Evening at Cylburn lecture by Purple Martin expert, Kathleen Klimkiewicz, on the "Life History of the Purple Martin," November 2, 7:30 at Cylburn.

Joy Wheeler

Summer is a surprisingly dull season for birding. A major exception to this rule is the birding in the coastal marshlands. This summer was truly exceptional along the Delaware Bay coast.

The superstar of the season was a Whiskered Tern which appeared first at Cape May, then settled into the Ted Harvey and Pickering Beach areas of Little Creek WMA from mid-July to mid-August. This was the first appearance ever of this species in North America. Its normal home is around the Mediterranean! You had to find a European or world bird guide to see a picture of one. Its appearance was even front page news in papers from the New York Times to the Washington Post. BBC members seemed to have had better than average success in seeing this bird, which was notoriously evasive. A gentleman from Arizona, for example, flew out twice to see it, without success.

The other big star was a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper which appeared quite reliably at Bombay Hook. It's breeding territory is Siberia. In addition, one or more White-winged Terns, Curlew Sandpipers, and Ruffs -- all quite rare in North America -- returned to the area, as they have for the last few years. There were also several White Ibises and a Reddish Egret.

Closer to home, there was a White Ibis for several weeks at Liberty Lake by Route 140, and an Avocet appeared at the Paper Mill Flats of Loch Raven.

See Mark Pemburn's story inside detailing one BBC birding couple's quest for the Whiskered Tern. Also note the letter in this issue from James Kuethe of New York.

Steve Sanford

Late August and early September were favored by a welcome reduction in the blistering heat and high humidity of the previous weeks. Migration is under way but slowly. The early field reports reflected small numbers of Warblers and other expected migrants. This was borne up in the editor's forays to local migrant traps (Black Walnut Point and Point Lookout) where a long day's work turned up only a baker's dozen Warbler species and scarcely any Hawks. Hopefully next month's reports will bring better news in this regard.

Burton Alexander's trip to Liberty Reservoir (Sept. 5th) yielded 44 species including Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Black Vulture, Great Egret and a number of Indigo Buntings, including immatures. Common Yellowthroat was the only Warbler. The group also located a pair of Warbling Vireos in an area along the track where an active nest had been spotted last May. Nine participants.

A well-attended (18 participants) September 7th trip to Lake Roland led by Mac Plant turned up a total of 42 species (4 Warbler sp.) Among the highlights were Solitary Sandpiper, Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Chestnut-sided Warbler.

Sukon Kanchanaraksa led the trip to the Phoenix area on a warm and sunny Sunday, September 12th. The trip tally was 52 species including 3 Warbler species. Highlights included several Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, A Cedar Waxwing feeding young and a pair of Yellow-billed Cuckoo fledglings. 9 birders attended.

And this just in -- pressed into my sweating palm as we gallop toward the deadline . . .

The month's second trip to Lake Roland was on the 14th, this time under the direction of Josie Gray. Of the 46 species seen, 7 were Warblers, indicating that migration is heating up a bit. Goodies included Northern Parula, Black-throated Blue and Bay-breasted Warblers. Scarlet Tanagers were represented as well as three flavors of Vireo (White-eyed, Red-eyed and Yellow-throated). The lake's reduced water level has attracted more shorebirds than usual: Pectoral Sandpiper was numbered among the four species seen. 18 species of human were present.

Mark Pemburn

Be knowledgeable, be authoritative (YOU are the leader), be sensitive, be tolerant, be on time, be realistic, give clear directions, have a sense of humor, and above all, be enthusiastic.

These are words and phrases selected from our Leadership Training Workshop for field trip leaders. All 24 participants worked very hard (some of them even down on their hands and knees) to contribute to the list. They then listed things to consider when planning for a field trip: scout the area in advance, be aware of food and rest stops, consult the local hotlines, obtain permission for birding on private property, carry field guides and other related equipment.

Our leaders for the evening had obviously made the necessary preparations for a successful session for they personified everyone's description of good leaders. Thanks to Jean Worthley, Ben Poscover and Jim Peters for the outstanding evening. We should see the results for years to come.

Joy Wheeler

This is to remind field trip leaders, as announced in the last Chip Notes, that field trip reports should now be sent to:

If you have received return envelopes showing the previous address (Pete Webb), please correct the address to the above.

Mark will prepare regular summaries of the field trips to appear in Chip Notes.

We also would like to resume taking the names of the participants. A new field trip report form is being developed with a specific spot for this. In the meantime, please put the names on the back.

We have received reports from most of you. Thank you very much.

An osprey
A young bald eagle
And a crow
Flew in today at the slough

The osprey gleaming whitely
The eagle, mottled more than slightly
The crow, blacker than the other two

The osprey shrill, demanding
The eagle silent, erect, ignoring
The crow, outclassed, flew

Joy Wheeler

The rangers at Gunpowder Falls State Park need leaders for their scheduled spring bird walks in the Kingsville area along the Gunpowder River. To volunteer call Peyton Taylor at (410) 592-2897.

From late October to May the Baltimore Bird Club provides the quantity of birdseed necessary to supply three elevated ground-mounted feeders spaced around the grounds of Cylburn and to fill the two feeders mounted at the second-floor windows of the Carriage House.

There is both not-so-good news and very good news about bird-feeding at Cylburn.

The not-so-good news is that over the past two years two bird feeders have been stolen in their entirety -- both at the same location -- and two feeders have been vandalized by having their rain shields torn off. I am coping with this matter by rebuilding and replacing as needed. Also to be noted as negative news is the fact that the locations of two of the feeders afford easy access by squirrels who are obviously getting a disproportionate amount of birdseed. The very good news involves acknowledging with appreciation the efforts of our members who fill the ground-mounted feeders, namely: Jeannette Cabeen, Irma Weinstein, and Hester Witchey and their friends who accompany them on their rounds. The Carriage House feeders are tended by the staff naturalist, "Woody" Kief.

Within recent times it was clearly demonstrated in a dramatic fashion that nothing stops the bird-feeding team from getting the job done. The big snow storm of Friday March 12, 1993 had Irma Weinstein snowbound on Sunday March 14. Unable to get to Cylburn herself, Irma enlisted the aid of a family friend who agreed to cross-country ski at Cylburn. After picking up the key to the birdseed bin and receiving instructions from Irma, our cross-country skier successfully handled the filling of our bird feeders!

Mitchell Gerber

BEGINNING BALANCE - May 1,1992 $ 19,934.83

Receipts:

Total Receipts 10671.48

30,606.31

Expenditures:

Total Expenditures (9.106.77)

ENDING BALANCE - APRIL 30, 1993 $ 21,499.54

Robert C. Wood, Treasurer

It's always good to report that good people from the BBC have received MOS scholarships for summer study in ornithology and related subjects. Many of us have, starting with Nancy Rowe in 1959. This year, 1993, has produced another BBC winner in Beatrice Nicolls, 4th grade teacher at Sussex Elementary School, Baltimore County. Bea, a fairly new member of BBC, has not wasted time in taking advantage of the help we have to offer. She has brought her classes to Cylburn and some of us have visited her classes at Sussex. She has produced many enthusiastic birdwatchers in her classes at her school located on tidal Duck Creek, a tributary of Back River. The combination is unbeatable: good 4th graders, good birds, good habitat, and Bea Nicolls. We're happy to contribute to Bea's future which should hold many more years of turning youth on to the importance of birds in their environment. By the end of the summer Bea will have spent one week at an ornithology workshop at National Audubon Society's Maine Camp.

Let this serve as a reminder for you to encourage good candidates to apply for the 1994 scholarship grants with the deadline January 1994. Those eligible are teachers, recreation leaders, camp leaders, anyone who works with people to help educate the public about birds. Contact: Annette Drummond, 252-7197.

Joy Wheeler

SEEING THE WHISKERED TERN (?)

In late July we had a visitor from a foreign land in our area. We believe. The "Voice of the Naturalist" hotline for July 13th contained an excited report of a Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybridus) in the vicinity of Cape May. The Whiskered Tern is one of the Marsh Terns and is a fairly common item in Europe and Africa. It is not a common item in Cape May, New Jersey. In fact, if this turned out to be the real thing, it would be the first record of a Whiskered Tern for the entire North American continent. If.

The "Voice" said that the Tern had been seen last on Saturday, July 11th. By the following Saturday, no one we could contact had any information on the bird. A small group from Baltimore made a trip to the Delaware shore with the notion that it might turn up at Little Creek. It didn't. Had we stuck around until Sunday morning, though, we might have been among the lucky ones who saw the Tern at the Ted Harvey Conservation Area between 8:00 and 8:45. Within hours, word was spreading across the nation. A Virginia birder we spoke with heard about the bird on Wednesday while vacationing in Alaska. The Tern was spotted on and off through Tuesday morning.

By the evening of Friday, July 23rd, the Tern had not been seen for three days. We did some mental coin flipping and decided to go for it anyway. We hit the road at 5:30 AM and were in the midst of it by 8:00.

The "book of lies" in the visitor's center at Bombay Hook made no mention of our bird. The leader of the tour group ogling the Ruff at Raymond Pool confirmed that Tuesday's sighting was the most recent. Still hopeful, we drove south toward Ted Harvey, checking every marsh and slough along the way.

The woman in the pickup truck leaving Ted Harvey said they were seeing a White-winged Tern back there but no Whiskered. Hmm. We drove on until we saw a large number of cars parked along the side of the dirt road. There was a knot of birders at the top of a rise in the road. A man headed back our way asked, "Have you seen the Whiskered Tern yet?"

A curious thing was happening out on the marsh as we approached that group of birders. Subtle molecular changes were

occurring in the DNA structure of the bird under scrutiny by some three dozen lenses. It was changing from a prized Whiskered Tern, first North American record into a shabby, ordinary Common Tern (Sterna hirundo), perhaps with some melanism to explain the dark breast feathers. As we set up our scope in the tangle of tripods, our crests were falling. How could this be?

Here's how. During the night, some large caliber birding ordinance had driven or flown in to Delaware to check out the sighting. The "big guns" were citing field marks too obscure for the lay birder to discern. Field marks that pointed away from the hopeful diagnosis of Whiskered Tern. We gazed at the bird as it preened and dozed on the mud flat, duly noting details in its markings but there was no joy in it. Whispered reports of the "gun's" further findings wandered through the pack. We pulled out our copy of Harrison's "Seabirds" and studied the text and illustrations to find something, anything that would change the bird back into our precious rarity.

Perhaps, thought we, a better view of the bird could be had if we walked up the beach a ways. The light was at a bad angle but it seemed nearer to the mud flat. As we got into position behind some phragmites, the Tern suddenly lifted into the air, circled once, then disappeared over the rise. During that brief moment, some things became clear. It did not fly like a Sterna tern. The tail was not long and deeply forked. The "jizz" (jeneral impression of zize and zhape) was wrong for a Sterna. Hope returned.

We wandered around looking at other things, speculating. As we talked with other birders, the feeling of excitement came back. This could not be a Common Tern. It might really be a Whiskered Tern. Why, it can't be anything but a Whiskered Tern!

We left for a bit of lunch then came back for another shot. As we approached the rise we saw that people had gathered again were looking at the mud flat. It was there. There were many smiles. Our local big guns (Bob Ringler and Gene Scarpulla) expressed no doubt. We were in joy again.

Mark Pemburn

James l. Kuethe
RD 4 Johnson Road
Scotia NY 12302

Dear Baltimore Birders:

Through the kindness and efforts of your member, Gene Scarpulla, I have recovered a spotting scope I lost in Delaware. That scope survived Attu and Sycamore Canyon, but would not have survived Delaware without Gene's kindness. Please accept the enclosed donation ($50.00) to the Baltimore Bird Club which I am making in appreciation of what Gene did for me. I am doubly pleased to do this as I was born in Baltimore and spent my first twenty-five years there, and have deep ties to the city.

Sincerely,
Jim

James L. Kuethe

There are serious indications this could be a great "winter finch" year. Here is a sampling of the evidence.

Since early September there have been unusually numerous reports of Red-breasted Nuthatches. In fact, they've been hard to avoid. Many birders have also commented that Juncos seem unusually thick this fall. On the morning of October 22 Jim Paulus, who regularly counts hawks at Town Hill in Allegany County, saw 55 Evening Grosbeaks, and some Pine Siskins. The next day Jim saw 5 groups of Evening Grosbeaks. By early November numbers of Evening Grosbeaks, Purple Finches and Pine Siskins were being widely reported on the "Voice," (the extremely informative D.C. regional birding hotline, (301) 652-1088), too.

In early November Bob Ringler, reporting on a Hudsonian Godwit and a Surf Scoter at Piney Run in Carroll County plus a Rufous Hummingbird in Cecil County, said incidentally that he also saw a flock of Evening Grosbeaks, some Pine Siskins, and two Snow Buntings that week at Piney Run. On November 10 George McDaniels, the owner of the house with the Rufous Hummingbird, mentioned that he was also seeing Pine Siskins and those big black and yellow birds, you-know-what-I-mean... Evening Grosbeaks.

Meanwhile a Northern Shrike appeared near Lucketts, Va. On November 11 the Philadelphia hotline indicated that some Bohemian Waxwings were being seen near Erie, Pa. and Hawk Mountain. In the same period groups of Common Redpolls were seen at the same two locations and at Cape May, plus a Snowy Owl at Erie as well; a Redpoll showed up at Blackwater; and a White-winged Crossbill was seen in New Jersey.

Is this the start of a "winter finch invasion?" Let's hope so !

Keep your feeders full.

The Delmarva Listers trip is the high point of the year for some of us. The usual circuit begins with shore-birding at Bombay Hook and several marsh and shore points in Delaware to the south. By the end of the first day, you're scanning the water off the jetty at Ocean City for Scoters and perhaps an early-arriving Gannet. In the morning, you shiver on boardwalk at 3rd Street on the Bay side and squint at the Skimmers and Oystercatchers on the flats. Later, a walk behind the dunes at Assateague Island may turn up a good Sparrow or two. Day two concludes at Chincoteague where you can catch any shorebirds you missed. Monday's itinerary begins with a walk along the Pony Trail for Warblers and other land birds. Those who haven't succumbed to the pace will then go on to Deal Island for waterfowl and perhaps stand in the sunset at Black Water, looking for that 140th species.

Saturday was warm and sunny. About 20 people assembled at the Bombay Hook visitor's center -- a smaller turn-out than in years past. We gave "the Hook" just a fast once-over since the water level was extremely low and the shorebirds had virtually nowhere to go. A few waterfowl were in for the season and Pintails could be seen swimming around with Green-winged Teal in the narrow channels. We pushed south to Port Mahon Rd, but the tide was in and not much was available save for the few Forster's and Royal Terns lined up on the pier. Ted Harvey (erstwhile home of the Whiskered Tern) proved a fruitless stop. They are closing it off to birders during hunting season this year. The group decided to head down to Ocean City.

Standing on the wind-swept beach, we had a very exciting moment when an all-white gull appeared. We chased it to the other side of the Fishing Pier where closer scrutiny revealed it to be an albanistic Ring-bill. Sigh. The old adrenaline had been pumping for a while, there. Bob Ringler had to bow out as trip leader at the end of the day. We thanked him and bid him farewell, then pointed fingers at each other to be the new leader.

Sunday saw a dramatic drop in temperature attended with clouds, wind and rain. We met at the O. C. flats at 8:30. A lone Great Cormorant was spotted among the more numerous Double-crested variety. Some comic relief was provided by a juvenile Pied-billed Grebe that "flew" in to check out the weirdos with the big eyes on the boardwalk at close range.

You have probably heard about the Rock Wren that Gene Scarpulla and some others found at Assateague that day. This happened either before or after the Listers trip toured the area. We heard about it after returning to Baltimore. Alas! We did see a few good birds here, though, a nice little flock of Red-breasted Nuthatches and a huge, swirling mass of Tree Swallows over the parking lot. Out on the beach, we were treated to the sight of a dozen-or-so Bottle-nosed Dolphins playing beyond the surf line.

Our tour of the Wildlife Drive at Chincoteague was extremely disappointing . They have paved the length of the drive with a thick coating of asphalt, leaving a car-killing dropoff at the shoulder. With no place to pull off and little to see in the arid impoundment in any case, we added but few species to the list in this normally rich area.

The best stop of the trip for land-birding was at the Pony Trail. Both Sunday night and Monday morning, we spotted sizable feeding parties of mixed Warblers, Red-breasted and Brown-headed Nuthatches and Chickadees at several places along the trail. The only birders to see the journey to it's conclusion at Deal Island were a brave but weary Steve Sanford and Alan Bromberg. The species total for the trip was 119.

The star bird this year had to be the Peregrine Falcon. We saw them everywhere. (Author's note: Let Steve tell you about the Peregrine we spotted high over the parking lot outside Phillip's restaurant in O.C. and the consequences following thereon. I am still too embarrassed.)

Mark Pemburn

Three dark blue loose leaf binders have been added to the MOS book collection at Cylburn. They each contain material written to inspire action by people interested in preserving habitats for the ultimate good of the bird populations of the world. Those of us reading this are already committed to that end. The material in each of these folders will present a different aspect to many widely recognized problems.

Directory of Volunteer Opportunities for Birders by Daphne Gemmill. This is the December 1992 issue of Winging It, the publication of the American Birding Association. It contains 230 projects which need the skills of practiced birdwatchers on projects from easily-accomplished to very rigorous. The directory is organized according to the state in which it is located to help you make your choice coincide with your own time frame. Look for our three copies the next time you are planning some in-depth bird study under the direction of ornithologists or wildlife managers in the field.

The Migratory Bird Handbook is an inch-thick collection of "activities and lessons" for International Bird Migration Day. It was compiled and published by Jamie Doyle of the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center and contains ideas for grassroots action and education campaigns. You will find a familiar name among the contributors: Jim Stasz. Jim contributed a lot of effort to get the MOS to accept this concept for our former May Count. But is it enough to just participate in the IMBD as listed on Page 5 and page 18 of our Baltimore Bird Club Program? Read through a few of these activities in the Handbook, choose one for yourself and one or two for action by our Board of Directors. Then be ready for Peter Stangle's "Partners in Flight" lecture at our Annual Meeting in March. This should help to get our Baltimore Bird Club on board for international cooperation in the much-needed efforts to preserve the diversity in worldwide bird populations.

Birds Over Troubled Forests is a small publication but it has what we all like in a bird book: pictures. Yet its title and the many graphs and photos and chapter headings are enough to stop your heart when you think of the current truths about birds, other than their beauty and the beauty of their song. Henry David Thoreau's quote at the book's beginning was made in a time for which we all yearn. But we cannot look back. There is too much to be done by organizations like ours. We have some serious battles at hand, such as the Loch Raven Watershed and Cylburn, as well as the conservation of birds that migrate to the tropics. Get acquainted with the issues. Let our Board of Directors know where you think action should be taken.

Joy Wheeler

Judging by the volume of reports we received this month, the BBC's Field Trip program is healthy and strong.

August 21 - Regular visitors to the Delaware shore know that this summer was truly star-studded. This year's pilgrimage of 15 souls to Bombay Hook led by our shorebird guru, Pete Webb, had several write-in species including an immature Reddish Egret (normally found in Southern Florida), a Long-billed Dowitcher, and an adult Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (a Siberian breeder). The group saw almost all of the available Heron and Egret species and 20 kinds of Plovers and Sandpipers. The trip total was 81 species.

September 11 - The Woodstock area is an old favorite during Spring and Fall migrations. The tall railroad embankment gives you an eye-level view of birds that normally haunt the tops of tall trees. Art Rogers' fall trip to Woodstock numbered 11 persons and listed 50 species. The Warbler count was deemed low, with only seven species figuring in the tally. These included Parula, Magnolia, Black-throated Green, Redstart, Yellowthroat, Canada and "Bay-poll" (most likely Blackpoll). Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks as well as Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks were also seen. Weather was mostly sunny in the 50's to 60's.

September 19 - Peggy Bohanan led 19 on a tour of Cylburn Arboretum and Lake Roland on a clear, breezy and cool day. Highlights among the 45 species seen were Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Black-throated Blue and Black-throated Green and Canada Warblers as well as Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

September 21 - The weather turned to clouds and rain for Mary Jo Campbell's Lake Roland trip. The 12-member group turned up 37 species including 4 kinds of Woodpecker (Red-bellied and Downy Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Northern Flicker.) Four species of Warblers were also seen. The reader may note that while quite a variety of shorebirds were found at Lake Roland as late as September 14th, they all seem to have moved on by this date.

September 25 - An impressive 32 people attended Joy Wheeler and Bob Stanhope's "Breakfast with the Birds" at the Oregon Ridge Nature Center on a cool, pleasant, overcast Saturday. The group saw a total of 50 species including 10 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. Two pairs of Black-throated Blue's were among a total of eight Warbler species.

September 28 - Three days later, the sun had re-emerged and light Northwest breezes wafted o'er Lake Roland for Paul Noell's 16-member party. 38 species were recorded. This trip had better success with Warblers than recent excursions to the spot, with a total of seven species.

October 2 - Although the day began with showers, they soon gave way to sun and temperatures in the 70's. Paul Noell (our Avi-Mycologist) led a group of eight on the second annual "Mushroom Foray" near Peerce's Plantation on the verges of Loch Raven Reservoir. 31 species were noted -- Paul carefully points out that these were bird species -- in addition to the 44 species of mushrooms observed. High points of the trip were either the Blue Milky Cap (Lactarius indigo) and Common Bird's Nest (Crucibulum læve) or the Common Loon (Gavia immer) and Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca).

October 3 - Clouds turned to a sunny 62 the following day as Paul Noell again took to the field with 12 colleagues in tow on the BBC's first trip to Cromwell Valley Park. The group spotted 42 species total with a strong showing from the raptors. Both Black and Turkey Vultures were seen along with Sharp-shinned, Cooper's and Red-Tailed Hawks and American Kestrel.

October 5 - This day saw more clear skies though winds and cool temperatures spoke of the advance of autumn. Peggy Bohanan's trip through Lake Roland with 21 others turned up 47 species including nine varieties of raptors! Bald Eagle was the stand-out sighting but Osprey, Kestrel, "TV's" and "BV's", "Coops" and "Sharpies", "Tails" and "Shoulders" were also on the list. This trip also marks the return of the White-throated Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos.

October 7 - The fringed gentians were in bloom on a perfect October Thursday at Soldier's Delight. Jean Worthley led 24 folks on her bird-and-botany tour through this intriguing natural area. The seven species listed included Eastern Phoebe, Rufous-sided Towhee and Field Sparrow.

October 9 -11 - 18th Annual Delmarva Listers Trip. Sun and 70 temperatures turn to wind and rain in the 40's. 119 species, 20 members. Leaders: Bob Ringler and later Steve Sanford. Details on page 1.

October 19 - The month is cooler now and the Tuesday morning Lake Roland walk with Peggy Bohanan was conducted under cloudy skies. 34 species were listed by the 22 member ensemble. More Sparrows are in evidence with Swamp and Song Sparrow being added to those seen the previous trip. The Ruby-crowned Kinglet has returned from it's summer haunts and the White-breasted Nuthatch is also seen scrabbling head-down on the tree trunks.

- - -

A request to trip leaders from the editor: Please jot down a word or two about the trip's high points to help us illuminate the special moments that make our field trips interesting.

Mark Pemburn

The rangers at Gunpowder Falls State Park need leaders for their scheduled spring bird walks in the Kingsville area along the Big and Little Gunpowder Rivers. To volunteer for next spring's program call Peyton Taylor at (410) 592-2897.

We, as birders, prancing joyfully through fields and woods in pursuit of the objects of our affection (feathered or otherwise), are unfortunately at high risk for getting Lyme disease, which is transmitted by Deer Ticks. Following a lead from Janet Granofsky, we received a letter and other information from Dr. G. Thomas Strickland of the University of Maryland who is in charge of a study of Lyme Disease in Maryland. His letter stated:

In a telephone conversation Dr. Strickland said if you have been diagnosed with Lyme disease you should not report your case directly to the study. Rather, you should be sure that your doctor has reported your case to the Maryland Department of Health and Hygiene. This is the source of the contacts for the study.

Nobody in his right mind would get in an old car in mid-winter and take a 2300 mile, minimally-planned birding trip, alone, to northern Michigan and Ontario. Fortunately, I am a birder and therefore not in my right mind, so that's just what I did on President's day weekend, 1993, with great results.

Before I was a birder, winter was pure torture: eternally dark; cold and icy outside; hot and stuffy indoors; and at its heart comes that cruel episode of mandatory happiness: Christmas.

But then I became a birder. By February 1991 my developing madness propelled me to far northeastern Pennsylvania to see my first Northern Hawk Owl, followed closely by my first Snowy Owl, with a Long-eared Owl a month later. I craved more.

_______________

There were a number of enticing articles in birding magazines last year about winter birding, especially for northern owls, in places such as Amherst Island, Ontario; Duluth, Minnesota; and Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan/Ontario. I checked various sources such as the Detroit hotline (313-477-1360), the Sault Ste. Marie hotline (705-256-2790), and articles in ABA's Winging It, and decided the place to go then was Sault Ste. Marie.

So I got my car's thermostat replaced, refreshed the anti-freeze, and hit the road. I dashed across Pennsylvania and Ohio and then headed north in Michigan in time to miss a major snowstorm. Yes, north to escape the snow.

About 5 O'clock I pulled off the interstate south of Sault Ste. Marie for some quick pre-dusk birding. I saw 3 Snowy Owls in 15 minutes, and a few Snow Buntings. Not Bad! Then I found a motel.

Officially there was 15 inches of snow cover in the area, and the next morning's temperature was supposed to be about 5 above. I was surprised at how easily I adapted to the low temperatures and the snow-cover. The snow was so dry that it was not difficult to drive on.

To my delight my old car started right up the next morning and took me down to a power plant where a Gray-phase Gyrfalcon was waiting for me in plain view. It was somewhat of a working-class looking bird, but it was a coveted life-bird.

That freed me to pursue my real target: Great Gray Owl. I took the ferry to a wonderful place, Sugar Island. I went up one road and encountered a yard with many feeders attracting large numbers of Pine Siskins, Purple Finches and Evening Grosbeaks; and in nearby spruces there were a dozen or so White-winged Crossbills. The owner of the house appeared and we chatted. I asked if he was aware of Great Gray Owls. Indeed he was, and, in fact, his daughter and another local birder were out setting up nesting boxes for Great Gray Owls at that very moment.

About an hour later I ran into the birders. They told me I was right in the heart of the owls' territory, and if I kept looking I would certainly see one. With this encouragement I continued cruising. Soon I ran into another life bird I was seeking: a handsome Common Redpoll. Later, I encounterd several flocks of them, including numbers of well-marked males, and some more White-winged Crossbills. I also found two Northern Shrikes.

But alas, no Great Gray Owls! I cruised the roads for hours. There were many likely-looking trees for the owls to be in, but they just weren't there. I was impatiently waiting for dusk, but they still weren't appearing. At 6 PM it was obvious I wasn't going to find one here. I decided to make one final ritual pass up one road and retire to my motel.

And, bam! There was a Great Gray Owl! Not too far away, either. With its stern face, that always reminded me of the Ayatollah Khomeini, it checked me over objectively. I was less objective. "Thank you, thank you! You are beautiful. I love you." It flew to another branch, perhaps in disgust.

_______________

That was one of the best day's birding I've ever had. The rest of the trip was tame in comparison, but quite pleasant. I came home via Ontario and passed through Algonquin Provicial Park. At one point I stopped to rest and two Gray Jays fluttered all around me begging for a snack. I put a few pieces of a sandwich in my palm, and they landed on my fingertips and ate from my hand.

This winter trip was so good I may have to revise my attitude about Christmas!

Steve Sanford

On October 11 a Rock Wren was discovered on Assateague Island at the federal area. This was the "state record" (i.e. the first known appearance in Maryland) for this species, which is normally found in the Far West or South Texas. It hung around a maintenance area as though it was settling in for the winter.

Some Baltimore birders went out and saw it within a few days of its discovery. Others were less fortunate, for it disappeared after only a few days, leading Paul Noell to dub it the "Wretched Wren."

Several of us went to Monument Knob on September 19 hoping to catch a major passage of Broad-winged Hawks. But, alas, we only saw about twenty Broad-wings along with 20-30 other species. We joked about how Bob Rineer, who was going the same day to Waggoner's Gap (north of Carlisle, Pa.), would probably boast of seeing "thousands" of Broad-wings. Several days later Bob reported that Waggoner's Gap was pretty dull ... until about 3:30. Then, sure enough, "thousands" of Broad-wings came by. About 4000, that is.

No wonder we made Bob President!

In mid-September Peggy Bohanan said she talked to Ben Yokel, now living in Minnesota near Duluth, and he reported that the migration of hawks and warblers, in contrast to our dull season, was fantastic.

The Duluth hot line said that on September 18 their Hawk Ridge had 49,560 raptors including 47,000 Broad-winged Hawks and 60 Bald eagles. As of September 23 they had already had 120,000 hawks for the season. Similarly, the Windsor Ontario hotline said they had 60,000 Broad-wings on their Holiday Beach on September 18.

How about that, Bob!

Steve Sanford

CHIP NOTES --- FEBRUARY 1994

In early December the reports of a winter invasion of finches and other species, were appearing to be greatly exaggerated. Most of our feeders were not brimming with Pine Siskins, Evening Grosbeaks, etc; but the Baltimore Harbor Christmas Count on January 2, 1994, and other events, showed that an invasion is indeed underway.

On the Baltimore Harbor Christmas Count Marty Cribb and David Holmes found 95 Common Redpolls and 2 Hoary Redpolls on Hart-Miller Island. In addition, substantial numbers of Snow Buntings were found there again, as in the past. On the landward side Shirley Geddes, Peggy Bohanan and company saw several Common Redpolls in the Turkey Point area of Middle River. The following weekend a number of Baltimore birders braved ice and cold to go out to Hart-Miller and saw the Common Redpolls and a "flying white rump," as Pete Webb put it, of a Hoary Redpoll.

In the meantime, other birders got to see Common Redpolls the easy way by going to see them at Brent and Mary Byers' feeder on the peninsula between Back and Middle Rivers. Alas, Bob Rineer roamed the area too; he almost stopped by at Brent and Mary's, but didn't, and therefore didn't see any Redpolls at all. Even worse, Gene Scarpulla went out to Hart-Miller earlier without seeing any. We hope they have found some since then. By mid-January the Voice of the Naturalist (301-652-1088) reported that Redpolls were being seen at many feeders in Maryland.

Snowy Owls are here again too. As many as four at one time were seen at Cape Henlopen, Del. beginning in early December. Another Snowy Owl stayed for about a week in a suburban development near Waldorf, Charles County in the first week of December. Common and King Eiders, Harlequin Ducks, and Little Gulls appeared early at Ocean City Inlet or Indian River Inlet.

At the same time visitors from other points of the compass have come in to provide some colorful counterpoint. The most spectacular was a male Painted Bunting which frequented a feeder near Elkton. This meant that birders could see the most colorful sub-tropical bird of the our continent, Painted Bunting, and one of the great symbols of the Arctic, Snowy Owl, as well as Snow Buntings, in the same day. You could even add the Rufous Hummingbird which continued to be seen near Elkton.

Steve Sanford

December 1993

Bob Ringler, Debbie Terry and Fran Pope joined me for 8 days of birding in Bolivia. We birded the dry Andean foothills near Santa Cruz; desert villages; the steamy Amazon jungle; the high Andes --- such a diversity of habitats. We saw a lot of gaudy birds including Andean Condors, Torrent Ducks, White-capped Dippers --- and several Amazonian Umbrella Birds. We did well on parrots with 16 species including the localized and endangered Red-fronted Macaw. Among 22 hummers was our favorite bird -- the Red-tailed Comet. 50 species of flycatchers were identified; 20 "ovenbirds"; 27 tanagers,and 43 finches. Also some interesting endemics such as Rufous-faced Antpitta, Cochabamba Mountain Finch, etc.

Hank Kaestner

With the excitement of fall migration behind us, the volume of Field Trip reports has dropped significantly. Still, a few birders (including your editor) enjoy or even prefer going afield as Jack Frost returns to our region.

November 14 - An unseasonably sunny day in the 50's for Burton Alexander's trip to Piney Run Park in Carroll County. A total of 64 species were seen by the 13-member party including 13 species of ducks. The day's highlights were Surf Scoter (2nd Carroll Co record) and Black Scoter (3rd County record), Bald Eagle and Fox Sparrow. The mud flats along White Rock Road yielded Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, Dunlin and White-rumped Sandpiper. See Burton Alexander's narrative on the last page for a description of the strange demise of the Black Scoter.

November 20 - The field trip to Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, led by Taylor McClean, had numerous sightings of Bald Eagles, some of them rather close. It was a brisk, sunny, and very windy day, which kept the landbirds in seclusion. There were, for example, no Blue Jays, much less Brown-headed Nuthatches. Waterfowl numbers were low because the impoundment to the southwest of the headquarters was virtually dry. Several thousand Snow Geese, however, appeared in the open waters southwest of the visitors center, and flying overhead. Another highlight was an adult male Cooper's Hawk feeding on a rodent in a field near the visitors center. The species total was 48, with approximately a dozen human participants.

December 11 - If you could pick the perfect spot to go on a blustery December day, would it be to the exposed tip of Point Lookout in St. Mary's County? As a birder in search of sea ducks it certainly would be. Steve Sanford led 14 stalwart souls to the southern-most reaches of the Western Shore for a look at the dozens of Loons, Oldsquaw, Black, Surf and White-winged Scoters riding in the wind-torn surf off the point. We were also blessed with some good looks at Northern Gannets soaring on their big wings above the waves. Land birding was less spectacular. A chilly walk through the campgrounds in the State Park area turned up one lone Carolina Wren. Near dusk, we converged on a housing development in Waldorf, seeking the Snowy Owl that had been reported there a few days earlier. As the sun sunk lower on the horizon so did our hopes. We searched every field and rooftop until the light failed. We were convinced the Owl was just out of sight on the roof of the J. C. Penney's. Trip total: 47 species.

December 12 - Frigid temperatures continued. At 21° with 20 MPH winds, it is a day reserved for only the most hardy. Thus, Steve Simon was joined by only the brave Simon Calle -- one of our newer members -- on the annual late fall walk through the Picnic Grove of Loch Raven. The wind kept most of the land birds down, but they did have a close encounter with a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. The waterfowl were a little kinder: Wigeon, Ring-necks and Hooded Mergansers were spotted among others. 27 species total.

Mark Pemburn

It has been said that individuals fail to appreciate what is close at hand due to its familiarity and nearness. That is how I approached the Sunday bird walks this fall at Cylburn. I expected to brush up on my bird identification by observing common birds, paying close attention to field markings and bird calls. But, I was in for a surprise.

Each walk seemed to have its own character. One walk saw us observing soaring hawks. On another, a flock of chimney swifts filled the sky. On a third, several species of woodpecker were sighted and one Sunday caught a good migration of warblers. I was not disappointed. I did see the familiar robin, crow, and cardinal; but I also caught glimpses of song sparrows, scarlet tanagers, and rufous sided-towhees.

Many people fail to realize what is near and dear to them until it is lost. Cylburn Arboretum holds many wonders of nature practically at our doorsteps. Those birders who participated know how interesting the walks were. Those who missed these walks missed the peace, serenity, and beauty that is uniquely Cylburn. I thank the Program Committee for including Cylburn in the field trip schedule. It made me realize that the beauty of nature is just around the corner.

Joseph Lewandowski

DIRECTORS
Michele Melia NOMINATING COMMITTEE:

STATE DIRECTORS
Shirley Geddes
Brent Byers
Lenny Marcus
Karen Morley
Mark Pemburn
Gene Scarpulla
Bob Rineer
Terry Ross
Carolyn Webb

Pete Webb

Submitted by the 1993-1994 Nominating Committee: Graham Egerton, Roberta Ross, Gene Scarpulla, Debbie Terry (Chair), and Joy Wheeler.

For the last couple of years a bird new to Maryland has been puzzling feeding shelf keepers here and there, and the number of queries in recent months suggest that it is being seen more and more frequently and widely. The queries usually run something like this: "There's a bird coming to my sunflower seed that I can only identify as a house finch, but my book says that's a Far Western species and makes no mention of Maryland. What am I really seeing?"

Questioning has invariably left no real doubt that what these people were really seeing was indeed a house finch, or even a little flock of them. The reason their books said nothing about Maryland is simply that it is too new an arrival here; it is one of the very newest species to be discovered in our State, and the very newest to be found nesting here. How it comes to be in the East is a story, and how its arrival in Maryland first came to light is a story, too.

First, though, for those who have not yet seen the bird, or who at least have not realized that they were seeing it, some description of it is in order. The thing to be alert for is a "purple finch" whose color somehow doesn't look quite right -- the purple finch, in turn, being the sparrow-sized, raspberry-colored bird that is an irregular but sometimes extremely numerous visitor at feeding shelves hereabouts in many winters and springs.

The house finch is a relative of the purple, and the same size. The adult male, however, is a brighter red than its "cousin," its wing-bars are whitish instead of pinkish, and its underparts streaked instead of plain. Probably the most distinguishing thing about the female is her lack of the white line above the eye that is so prominent on the female purple finch; she has only a vague line there. Likewise, the streaking on her upper parts does not stand out so prominently.

As for the presence in the East of this species which properly belongs no nearer than western Nebraska, the finches -- which are said to have a pretty song -- are all believed to be descendants of some caged ones that were released about 1940 by dealers in the New York city area. The dealers, it seems, did not know that the species was a protected one, illegal as a cage bird, and when informed of this fact they turned their stocks loose. Probably on Long Island, for it was there in the spring of 1941 that the house finch was then first found living wild. in the years since, it has been gradually spreading in all directions.

The discovery that it had reached Maryland was made in 1958, in a most unusual way. On April 6 of that year a boy at Havre de Grace shot a bird that had on one leg one of the numbered bands issued by the Fish and Wildlife Service. Happily, he followed the instructions on the band and reported its serial number to Washington, where the records proved that the bird had been a house finch, banded in Ardmore, Pa., in the preceding January. Banding has yielded bird students information of many kinds, but there must have been few other times when it lead to the "discovery" of a species.

Three and a half years went by before the next finches were detected, but then, in December of 1961, they were identified at three different places about Baltimore -- at the feeders of Burton Alexander on Southern Avenue, C. Haven Kolb, Jr., on Meadowwood Road, and the late Florence Burner on Crofton Road, and some of these birds made stays that extended the following March.

In December of 1962, Mrs. Essie Pepper made the first identification on the Eastern Shore, near Denton, and later that winter they were seen at West Ocean City, the St. Michaels vicinity and, back on this side of the Bay, at Laurel. Since then there have been a good number of new sightings, with Annapolis, Larchmont and Lutherville among the additional localities.

The first, and so far the only, discovery of a nest was made at Towson, in 1963. On the State College campus there, in mid-may, Douglas Hackman found a male, singing, and in the course of the next several weeks he, Compton Crook and Mel Garland saw not only that bird on more occasions but also a female, and the two behaved as if they were nesting. Mr. Garland had hardly begun, then, what was to be a determined search for the nest when Maurice W. Richardson, chief engineer of the heating plant at the college, pointed out one he had noticed in ivy growing on the wall of that plant.

That was a typical site for house finches to choose, for, as one writer has said, the species is well named; it nests confidingly in doorway shrubbery, porch vines and so on. And when the two men now investigated here, they found that this was indeed the nest they were seeking. Five young birds were raised.

Hervey Brackbill - April 16, 1965

Our party of birders on the Piney Run field trip on November 14 enjoyed unseasonably warm weather and a good variety of birds -- especially ducks (13 species). Our duck watching was both rewarding and somewhat unsettling. It was rewarding because, thanks to Bob Ringler, we saw the Surf Scoter (2nd Carroll Co. record) that had been at the reservoir for about two weeks and, when we moved to another observation point to view it with the sun at a more favorable angle, Bob also identified a Black Scoter.

Now an unpleasant event happened. After the Black Scoter dove and surfaced a few times close to a spit of land (but perhaps 200 yards across open water from us); we noticed it was flapping its wings while remaining at one spot on the surface -- as though it suddenly got the urge to do some calisthenics. It then became apparent that the Scoter was struggling and getting lower in the water, and that its head and neck were submerged. Shortly the bird was less active, then motionless with not much of its body visible. We suppressed the idea that there must be a Piney Run Monster and accepted the likelihood that our Black Scoter had become the victim of a snapping turtle. Had fate delayed its demise a few minute so we could see it alive?

This is Nature in action but, isn't it tough to watch one of our feathered friends (indeed, a special one) be killed by a sneaky reptile? I once watched a rat snake assault a Wood Thrush nest in a tree above me and I could not do anything but watch. A thrown stick or stone may have hit one of the adults that were trying to drive off the snake.

Bob and a few other birders started off around the trails toward that area and recovered the body with a fallen tree of suitable length. There was no significant external damage to the bird; the assailant apparently drowned the unfortunate duck then decided not to eat any of it.

Some of the other ducks we saw on the reservoir were Shoveler, Ring-necked, Gadwall, and Canvasback. There were also Pied-billed Grebes and many Coots present. Two Bald Eagles sat in a tall tree across the lake much of the morning. In the shrubbery along the Field Trail we found Fox Sparrows, Hermit Thrushes, Catbirds and a Brown Thrasher. On the mud flats along White Rock Road -- where the water level was lower than normal -- we saw Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, White-rumped Sandpiper and Dunlin.

Burton Alexander

Most people probably think this was the worst winter we've had in years, but for birders it was one of the best. We had an extraordinary invasion of northern species.

In our last Chip Notes we reported the exciting discovery of Redpolls on Hart-Miller Island and a few sightings on the nearby mainland. By mid-January, however, we were seeing them, or at least, hearing about them, at feeders all over the region. A sterling example was the spectacle of perhaps three hundred Redpolls at the feeders of Gail Frantz in Reisterstown. See her account on the last page. A number of feeders all over central Maryland had similar numbers.

In mid-February we had the first documented appearance of a Gyrfalcon (gray-phased) in Maryland, in the New Design Road area of Frederick County. Although it spent most of its time out of sight of birders, it stayed in the area for at least a few weeks. Even if you failed to see the Gyrfalcon there, the birding was still excellent with hundreds of Horned Larks, dozens of Snow Buntings, and numbers of Lapland Longspurs, as well as several Rough-legged Hawks and Short-eared Owls sometimes and, of course, Redpolls. Of these species, only the Horned Larks and Longspurs are fairly dependable in normal years.

Within a week of the discovery of the Gyrfalcon came the first documented appearance of a Bohemian Waxwing in Maryland. It was near the bridge to Assateague Island. Unfortunately, it only stayed a couple of days, so few birders got to see it. It must have been a straggler from the major invasion of Bohemian Waxwings that hit Massachusetts. (Alan Bromberg and I went to Massachusetts on Presidents' Day weekend and verified that there were indeed flocks of hundreds of them there.)

Then, in late February, along came Red-necked Grebes. In normal years, we are lucky to see two or three of them around this time of year. This year we got hundreds. For example, the "Voice" reported that one party counted 102 of them along the Potomac within the D.C. lines.

Now, finally, Spring is here, with it's wonderful procession of warblers, orioles, tanagers, swallows, egrets, terns, shorebirds, flycatchers, grosbeaks, etc.

As usual, we have a big schedule of activities to greet our returning summer-resident and migrating avian friends. See pages 5-8.

There are a few changes from the scheduled Program Book. One of the most important ones is that LeAnne Pemburn is taking over from me as May Count compiler, for which I thank her profusely. I know she'll do a great job.

We have added a field trip to Severn Run and Ft. Smallwood on April 23 back into the schedule, and changed the June 26 trips destination to Southern Maryland. We have also added a trip to Hashawa on May 7, and to Days Cove for nesting Bank Swallows on June 12.

INSIDE: Field Trip Reports, May Count, Feeder Watch, Spring, Activities, Postcards from the Edge, Ballot for BBC officers, Bird Populations, Baltimore Midwinter Count Results, and Gail Frantz's Redpolls.

Steve Sanford - Editor
and Retired May Count Compiler

This is some winter. If you like to chase rarities, you could spend all day, every day on the road, or by the side of the road with your binoculars glued to your eyeballs and still not see everything. I speak from experience. Even the local newspapers have been recounting the litany winter delights: the Grosbeaks, the Redpolls, the Red-necked Grebes, the Gyrfalcon (don't talk to me about the Gyrfalcon), the Bohemian Waxwing, etc, etc. This issue's reports reflect the bounty that was reaped from a couple of our traditional winter trips.

January 29 - A mostly cloudy day with light winds and temperatures in the high 30's to low 40's. Jim Wilkinson led a group of 11 to Frederick County for the Lily Pons - New Design Rd. trip. The stubble fields yielded the hoped-for crop of Horned Larks, Snow Buntings, Water Pipits and Lapland Longspurs. Some of the good finds were Short-earred Owl, light phase Rough-legged Hawk and Red-headed Woodpecker (observed storing acorns in a telephone pole.) The ponds at Lily Pons produced a half-dozen Common Snipe.

February 19 - Pete Webb led the charge on the Eastern Shore. The weather was exemplary, sunny, light breezes and temperatures that rose into the high 50's. There was little indication of the ice storms that had slammed the area in the previous weeks. Sought after rarities were Bohemian Waxwing (gone), Clay-colored Sparrow (missing for the day), Red-necked Grebe (Seen by the dozens) and LeConte's Sparrow (seen by some). The trip started in Cape Henlopen and moved to the Ocean City area before noon. A stop at West Ocean City Pond added several species including one albino Brown-headed Cowbird. The group later made a pilgrimage to the "pig farm" -- a known mecca for blackbird species. Although no Brewer's Blackbirds turned up among the thousand of Grackles and Redwings, this was offset by a look at Bald Eagles at play and good scope views of a Pileated Woodpecker. 19 attendees; Total species -- 62.

There was an unfortunate but instructive incident at the LeConte's Sparrow site on the Eastern Shore trip. The site itself was an empty field that's part of a waterfront housing development near Ocean City. When the group arrived, there were already a dozen birders from the Anne Arundel trip preparing to stalk the bird. When joined by our group, the number rose to nearly thirty souls. LeConte's Sparrows are secretive and are best seen by flushing them, then encircling them. We did this. Then, just as some of us were starting to get looks at him, a man approached the circle. He expressed his displeasure at seeing large groups of people tramping through the fields adjacent to his home. He was not the owner of that parcel of land but, as a neighbor, he was offended by our presence. I think we would do well to enter the good graces of the neignbors to our rare bird finds before flocking to a site to gawk at it. In many cases, we are extremely lucky and find neighbors tolerant of our eccentricities. It might be that we need to appoint ambassadors to the non-birding community for just such circumstances. What do you think?

Mark Pemburn

You should use the tally sheet in the March-April issue of The Maryland Yellowthroat. Please follow the instructions carefully. NOTE: Details (i.e., description, place, time, etc.) are required on any species that is not found on the tally sheet, or that is unexpected in our area.

Please return your tally sheets before May 21st or risk being lost to posterity! Questions, names of participants, and helpful suggestions are gladly received by LeAnne Pemburn, your new county compiler, at 467-4737. My mailing address is 2617 Guilford Ave. Baltimore MD 21218. Good luck and good birding!

LeAnne Pemburn

Our Baltimore MOS newsletter wasn't very old before it began to include stories like these in a feeder watch column written for many years by one of our most unforgettable members, Alice Kaestner. When Mrs. Kaestner gave up its authorship, hardly any time went by before Bertie MacGregor stepped in. Was that Twenty years ago? Twenty-five? Nevertheless, we easily got used to having Bertie under the heading "Bird Information and Exchange" in the inside cover of our program booklet. Was its placement above the list of officers a reflection of its importance to the club? And so, for many years, if one of us had what we considered an unusual bird at our feeders, we called Bertie, who included it along with the birds in own Greenleaf Road yard in her monthly narrative of birds at local feeders. She demanded no proof, photos, or field notes made at the scene. Our word was good enough for her, and it made very good reading.

It's been some time since we heard from Bertie by way of our Chip Notes newsletter I personally know why we didn't see a column from Bertie last February. She was just too busy touring Costa Rica, seeing Alexander Skutch's backyard birds. But even before last February we were seeing less and less of her column, possibly because of a troubling and persistent condition in her writing arm. At first she used her left arm to write and did a creditable job, just as she had switched over to her left arm for playing an acceptable game of tennis. We admired her indomitable spirit. But there came a time when she gave up her reporting altogether. When that was exactly I don't know. As a matter of fact this column is a result of a call from my Reisterstown connection who was still unaware of Bertie's retirement from reporting. She had called her first about her backyard Redpolls. my own memory goes back some time when I wrote her a note to tell her of my backyard (Northampton Furnace Trail, that is) sighting of thirty Flickers flying off the Point across Loch Raven. If, by some remote chance, I should ever forget that, it's all recorded in one of Bertie's columns.

Bertie's cheery accounts of birds at our feeders have added many friendly touches to some otherwise cut-and-dried notices of Baltimore Chapter business. We all appreciated having bertie to tell our stories to, and then having the fun of reading our names in the newsletter with the accounts of our best birds.

Thank you, Bertie, for being such a faithful correspondent. We hope that the birds of Greenleaf Road never cease to delight you.

And now, let's consider starting up a new "Feeder Notes" column. Is there any one among us who would like to receive a few excited and happy phone calls or notes about what is going on with our backyard birds and mold them into some readable space for our estimable newsletter, Chip Notes ? Just give our editor a call, and I'm sure he can find a space for you. I'm also sure you'll find some eager contributors and readers.

Joy Wheeler

In February, we've been in the grip of cold weather for too long and we're looking for a way out. You can like or hate the Winter, it doesn't matter, at this time of year, we're all straining for signs of Spring.

When I was a boy in Connecticut, Winter lasted well into April. I wasn't much of a nature watcher, so the herald of Spring for me was the return of the leaves to the trees. Many years I would look up one day and think, "Huh? Where did those leaves come from all of a sudden?" Later, I heard about the crocuses pushing their way through snow at the slightest provocation. Crocuses, however, are flowers. A boy doesn't have much truck with flowers.

My mother watched birds and would keep her feeder filled all winter. She told me that the Robin-red-breast was the harbinger of Spring and a sign that the birds could make it without her help until next year. I found this to be a suitable indicator and kept an eye open for them every year thereafter.

As I grew older and started looking at the world around me, other things, more subtle signs told me of the changing season. The precocious maple tree will tip its branches with deep red buds when the days have grown sufficiently long. Along the forest streams, little knobs of skunk cabbage start poking up through the soil. I hadn't really known how late these Spring-signs are, though, until I started birding.

January 1 Went to a party out in the county. Cold and snow everywhere. Stepped out onto the back deck at dusk and heard a pair of Great Horned Owls calling to each other. Listened to them as long as we could stand it.

February 2 Stuck my head out the back door for a minute. Everything still covered with snow and ice. Down by the RR tracks, heard a lot of "tseet" call notes from the White-throats. Somebody made a tentative try at a song. ("Poor", "poor", "Sam-Pee") A minute later, heard the whole thing: "Poor Sam Peabody, Peabody, Peabody." Closed the door. Still too cold!

February 4 Walking to the bus stop, heard a Song Sparrow doing an impressive aria. Walked as slowly as a dared (consistent with catching the bus) until I was too far away to hear it. Uplifting.

February 13 Packing up the car for a trip to Frederick County, we heard a House Finch singing his heart out from the top of a maple.

February 21 Laying in bed, gray light beginning to show around the edges of the shade. Beyond the window, the "Cheer, cheer, cheer" of a cardinal proclaiming his territory. "Cheer, cheer, cheer, boit, boit, boit, boit, boit." With all this singing, it might as well be Spring!

Mark Pemburn

Pos Udara

11/5/93

Hank Kaestner

Por Avion

Jan 94

I've just finished a 10 day trip to the virgin Darien jungle with Bob Ridgely who wrote the book on birds of Panama. The Darien is along the East Panama border with Columbia, and is the wildest jungle north of South America. We saw 100's of macaws of 4 species, lots of antbirds attending giant swarms af army ants, and many spider monkeys. The only negative of camping in the jungle is the 100's of tick bites.

Hank Kaestner

Editors note: In case you don't already know, Hank Kaestner is one of our club's most widely-traveled and respected birders. He has a perfect job for a birder: a spice buyer for McCormick & Co.

The first postcard above was marked "Pos Udara," which apparently is Indonesian for "Slow boat to America," since it was mailed 11/5/93 but I didn't get it until about 03/10/94.

S.S.

The Nominating Committee submits its list of nominees for the Board of Directors for 1994-1995. All members (except juniors) with dues paid for 1993-1994 are eligible to vote. Husband and wife membership entitles each spouse to one vote. Please mark your ballot. Ballots must be received by Brent and Mary Byers by April 23, 1994.

OFFICERS: President- Sukon Kanchanaraksa

Vice-president- Debbie Terry

Recording Secretary - Alan Bromberg

Corresponding Secretary - Dot Clark

Treasurer- Bob Wood

Membership Secretary - Roberta Ross

DIRECTORS:Michele Melia

Joseph Lewandowski

Mary Plaine

STATE DIRECTORS: Brent Byers Terry Ross

Karen Morley Pete Webb

Gene Scarpulla

NOMINATING COMMITTEE: Shirley Geddes Bob Rineer

Lenny Marcus Carolyn Webb

Mark Pemburn

Brent and Mary Byers, 1104 Engleberth Rd, Baltimore MD 21221-2008

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Check your choice: I vote ___FOR ___AGAINST the slate for the Board of Directors of the Baltimore Bird Club as submitted by the Nominating Committee for the year 1994-1995.

Vote for two members to serve on the Nominating Committee. Terms to expire in 1995:

___Shirley Geddes ___Bob Rineer

___Lenny Marcus ___Carolyn Webb

___Mark Pemburn

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Check your choice: I vote ___FOR ___AGAINST the slate for the Board of Directors of the Baltimore Bird Club as submitted by the Nominating Committee for the year 1993-1994.

Vote for two members to serve on the Nominating Committee. Terms to expire in 1995:

___Shirley Geddes ___Bob Rineer

___Lenny Marcus ___Carolyn Webb

___Mark Pemburn

Mine was hardly a scientific or statistically meaningful analysis, but I decided to compare three reports:

2 - The 1989-1993 May Count (Baltimore County and City)

3 - The 1990-1993 Spring Count by the Irvine Natural Science Center

Blue JayUp
Black throated Blue Warbler Down
Kentucky Warbler Down
Grasshopper Sparrow Down

Two out of three found no change in numbers for the following:

Turkey Vulture
Yellow-throated Vireo
Worm-eating Warbler
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Cardinal
Common Grackle
American Robin

Lester Simon

1994 Baltimore Mid-winter count

The first three appear January 16th at a tube feeder hanging on the back porch. Days later another birder tells me, "...they're all over the Piedmont. I had five at my feeder this morning."

"Must be the weather," I reply.

During the first few days, except for one lone male, the niger feeder is ignored. The preferred food is the hulled striped sunflower seeds variously called hearts, chips, or bits. The flock, which is growing daily, quickly gobbles up the chips sprinkled over the snow on the back porch. We buy another 50 pound bag.

On January 28th ice storm hits. School is closed and I'm able to spend the day monitoring the flock. The count drops from 90 to 50. Oh well, so they've found another food source. Saturday, January 29th around 7:00 A.M. they return.

Small flocks, silhouetted against the new day's sky, fly deliberately onto the bare branches of the tall trees that surround our backyard. I watch them intently, not believing my eyes at the growing numbers. Surely, there must be Goldfinches mixed in among them. There aren't.

The aerial acrobatics of this throng are spectacular. They split, meet, they soar over and around each other. The flock spreads itself high above the yard like a living canopy, chittering and calling. Finally, falling back into the treetops, they begin to prepare for the serious business of feeding. I try to get comfortable so I won't have to move when they come in. My feet are cold.

The fifteen-foot Mountain Ash growing next to the back porch is always popular with bird surveillance flocks. The 'polls sit tentatively. The sudden raucous call of a Blue Jay sends them instantly whirling up and away. Slowly, small numbers move in a few at a time, repeating the same ritual. Once more, the 'polls begin to accumulate on the short, bushy tree. Without warning there is an explosion of movement. The little birds come from behind, from above, from the side. Redpolls are everywhere - on the ground, the railing, the ash. My head moves involuntarily. With a sudden whuushhh of wings they flee to the safety of the tall trees (get a grip on yourself). The whole process begins again. Once more, like fluttering leaves, they fill the now calm space around me. Their vulnerability and wild sweetness touches my heart.

We estimate the flock has reached around three hundred. They perform this sound and light extravaganza every morning.

Gail Frantz - Reisterstown, Md.

Our last bird club year was highlighted by an exciting procession of rare and wonderful birds, such as the Whiskered Tern in Delaware and the winter invasion of Redpolls. As of mid-July, the rare birds have been giving us a chance to catch our breath.

We enter a new bird club year with many changes in our officers. We welcome Sukon Kanchanaraksa as our new President, and Deborah Terry as new Vice-president. Robert Wood stays on as Treasurer. Alan Bromberg is our new Recording Secretary. He will be writing summaries of the Board Meetings to be published in Chip Notes. Dorothy Clark continues as Corresponding Secretary, and Roberta Ross remains as Membership Secretary. See the new Membership Directory or Program Book with this mailing for a complete listing of officers and directors.

We thank Bob Rineer for his services as President last year, and we certainly thank Dottee Palmer for her many years as Recording Secretary.

The Board of Directors of the Baltimore Bird Club met on June 6. The board discussed at length what activities and accomplishments the club should focus on in the next year. There was general agreement that there should be more emphasis on increasing public awareness of the BBC and its activities through various means, such as expanding bird walks and educational programs; producing bird lists for the Baltimore area and for specific sites which would be available at city and county parks; creating a display for the various fairs and festivals which take place in the city; and by seeking more youth involvement, especially among inner-city children. The Baltimore Parks Department has advised us that anything we want done at Cylburn is predicated on more use of the arboretum for disadvantaged inner-city children, and a suggestion was made that we establish an ongoing program to get more young people into the BBC.

In line with the board's discussions, the MOS is proposing an ornithology outreach program to provide more visibility to the society and has requested each chapter to participate. As part of this program, we could sponsor talks on birds and club activities at schools, senior citizens groups, and similar forums. As a first step, the board unanimously approved a motion to sponsor attendance of five children at the Carrie Murray Camp this summer. Additionally, the Boy Scouts would welcome BBC members to serve as counselors for scouts seeking the bird study merit badge. Applications are available from Karen Morley. The Girl Scouts have also expressed interest in the idea.

Alan Bromberg

Slowly opens the cocoon. The creature samples the warming air with tentative feelers, then begins its journey into the world of light. Or -- slowly opens the binocular case as we Winter shut-ins venture once more into the woods and fields of Spring.

February 26 - A clear and sunny day, though high winds and temperatures in the low 30's make it a challenge for the stalwart group of nine under the leadership of Marty Cribb. Despite the weather, this trip to Black Marsh yielded 40 species including over 500 Scaup (both kinds), a Fox Sparrow, Bald Eagle, 50-60 Eastern Bluebirds and an early Eastern Phoebe.

March 13 - Skies continue to be clear and temperatures are rising into the low 40's, but Loch Raven is still frozen solid on this date. The ice makes eerie booms and zings as Steve Simon and 26 chilly birders explore the woods and the sparse open water of the lake. Tundra Swan, Northern Pintail and Tree Swallow were among the highlights of the trip. Thirty-eight species were tallied.

March 19 - Light breezes, bright sun and 50° on the thermometer signal that Spring is now inevitable. What's more, the field trip to Middle Creek, PA actually goes to Middle Creek this year (last year, we chased a Painted Bunting near Philadelphia instead). Steve Sanford led the charge, and the group of 7 garnered 54 species before the day was done. Near the Susquehanna the group saw a mysterious white bird that some thought was a Gyrfalcon and others thought must be an albino hawk. They had nice looks at Pine Siskins and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Unfortunately Middle Creek itself was totally frozen over, and taken over by runners, but a fair assortment of waterfowl was found at Octoraro Lake, including about 1000 Snow Geese.

March 26 - Having passed the equinox a few days before, it is now officially Spring. Winter still has a few things to say, however, so this day is cooler than earlier (40° to 55° ) and the sun plays hide-and-seek. Steve Sanford led 10 people on a bird-a-thon that was listed in the program as "The Deal Island Trip." The itinerary included 14 stops -- 4 of them fast-food restaurants -- and a trip total of 92 species was returned (as promised). Highlights of the day were: Harlequin Ducks in breeding plumage on the rocks at Ocean City jetty, Red Throated Loon, Purple Sandpipers and two Northern Gannets (also at O.C.), White-crowned Sparrows at Gum Point Rd. (off of Rte 589) and a great look at a Short-earred Owl in flight at Deal Island. Last stop of the day was at the Ocean Odyssey in Cambridge, rated 5 m's (mmmmm!) by the trip leader.

March 27 - It's difficult to bird in the pouring rain but it can be done. It can even be enjoyable. Burton Alexander and Bruce Dwyer set their jaws and managed to see 33 species between the drops on this year's Spring trip to Piney Run. The trip's highlights were Hermit Thrush (close view), Common Loon and numerous American Coot.

April 2 - If you had gone to Back River Sewage Treatment Plant with Bob Rineer on this glorious 65° day, you, too, would have seen the Brown-headed Nuthatch. The thirteen lucky souls who did see it saw an additional 35 species including Laughing and Bonaparte's Gulls, Common Loon and Common Snipe. (Editor's note: The Nuthatch was not in evidence the next day when a handful of us went out looking for it.)

April 5 - Clear and cool said the weather forecast, and that's what it was. Peggy Bohanan's Lake Roland trip tallied 35 species this day, listing Common Loon, Barred Owl and Northern Rough-winged Swallow among them. Sixteen people attended.

April 7 - Jean Worthley reports that the weather "deteriorated from okay to chilly" as she led 9 folks through Cylburn Arboretum. A total of 16 species were seen as well as the day's highlight bird -- a Palm Warbler. (Welcome back, bud!) Two Brown Creepers were also noted.

April 12 - A cloudy, drizzly day. Mary Jo Campbell did the rounds of Lake Roland with 13 others. Thirty-three species were listed including Sharp-shinned, Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawks as well as a Barred Owl.

April 19 - The weather is getting decidedly "Spring-y" now, with temperatures ranging up into to the 80's. Patsy Perlman's Lake Roland trip this day was very well attended -- 29 people all told. The 51 species included Osprey, Red-shouldered, Broad-winged and Red-tailed Hawks, Spotted Sandpiper, Rough-winged, Tree and Barn Swallows, a Northern Parula and a Black-and-white Warbler.

April 23 - A beautiful day for the opening of trout season. Trout season? Yes, this is what we discovered when the seven of us arrived at Severn Run with Pete Webb for the annual early-migrant trip. The stream-side was chock-a-block with guys chucking Velveeta at the bewildered trout recently ejected from their cozy hatchery pools. Despite this, we collected a total of 63 species (some of these later at Fort Smallwood). Highlights of the trip were a well-seen Prothonotary (a.k.a. "Cheese Doodle") Warbler and a brief glimpse at a Hooded Warbler. Other Warblers were: Pine, Yellow-rumped and Black-and-white, Ovenbird, Northern Parula and Waterthrush Sp.

Compiled by Mark Pemburn

March 17, Birding for Bibliophiles, Garrett Library, Evergreen Mansion, indoor temp. 72° , no precipitation. Easy walking over the mosaic, inlaid floors and antique oriental carpets. Habitats included forests of Tiffany glass, Meissen and Ming porcelain, Dufy water-colors and scattered outcroppings of Picasso, Modigliani and others too numerous to mention.

Species sighted (all at ranges of up to several inches) included Baltimore Oriole and Maryland Yellowthroat by J. J. Audubon. Some 400+ species by Audubon viewed on previous expeditions were, alas, hibernating in wait of binding repairs. However, this did provide the 16 participants sightings of all the magnificent Birds of Paradise by John Gould. Favorites included Wattle-billed Bird of Paradise, King of Saxony Bird of Paradise, Magnificent Riflebird, and the legendary Blue Bird of Paradise.

One of the world's greatest bird book collections, right in our own back yard.

Nick Schneider

All of the birders who joined the Cylburn-Lake Roland field trip on a rainy May 1st morning were thrilled at two White-crowned Sparrows. It was young new member Scott Jackson who found them for us. The Baltimore Bird Club feels that its future is in good hands with the recent influx of a new generation of birders.

Thanks Scott and keep it up.

Peggy Bohanan

In June I took a trip to Colorado and Western Wyoming. One species that I was hoping to get was Boreal Owl. I had made a tape of my hoped-for birds, including, of course, Boreal Owl, and listened to it often so I would be ready to pounce upon my prey if I heard one.

I spent one night in Pinedale, Wyoming, about a hundred miles south of the Grand Tetons. To my amazement, as I was unloading at my motel after dark, I heard one or more Boreal Owls calling vigorously from several directions. I sprang into action. I grabbed my tape-player, binoculars, and flashlight, and went behind the motel where most of the calls seemed to be coming from. Naturally, by then the calls had almost stopped. I played my tape repeatedly, hoping to lure one into view.

It was hard to believe a Boreal Owl would be in such a location. It was basically a sage-brush plain with only a few deciduous trees here and there, mainly along a small river about 1/4 mile from the motel. Boreal Owls are supposed to live in dense coniferous forests in the mountains.

But that was definitely a Boreal Owl's call. I listened more and zeroed in on one across the highway calling from low in a field. ... Hmmmm. Could this be something else? ... Then it dawned upon me I had heard a similar sound in New Brunswick. I got out my tapes to check it. Yes, it was actually just the winnowing of a Common Snipe (not heard much, if ever, in Maryland). Darn !

Interestingly, I talked to Mark and LeAnne Pemburn a few weeks later. They had just returned from Churchill, Manitoba. They had virtually the same experience (and letdown) with a Winnowing Boreal Owl. Beware!

Steve Sanford

Some free passes to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary are available to Baltimore Bird Club members. This is, of course, the premiere hawk-watching spot in the east, located north of Reading, PA. To obtain a pass call Bob Wood at 256-6310, or write to him at 3921 Miller Rd., Kingsville MD 21087.

June 18, 1994

Greetings from the Kingdom of Tonga in the South Pacific. This is the world's only monarchy -- the King and Queen are the absolute rulers here. Birdlife is rather poor -- only 20 or so species. I saw one (of the two) endemic species today - the Tonga Whistler, which is found only on the island of Vava'n in the north. I've seen lots of Polynesian Trillers, Polynesian Starlings, Wattled Honeyeaters, and Pacific Reef Herons in the lagoon. For mid-June there seem to be lots of Pacific Golden Plovers and (??????) young birds over-summering.

Hank Kaestner

Over the many years that we have been meeting school children at Cylburn we have received packs and packs of notes consisting of two or three sentences of thanks for our services, many very obviously teacher-motivated and correctly spelled, many obviously spontaneously composed of some very inventively spelled words, but all written on standard 81/2 x 11 lined newsprint, standard in all school systems, rich or poor. Lately, in this day of advanced communications technology we are getting computer-printed notes, some on computer-generated note paper bordered with fanciful designs of birds and bees. We may even get notes written on a child's own personal stationary, Teddy bears in the margin. Many letters are decorated by hand; "This is what I liked best... skunk skin ... me petting the raccoon," etc. No matter how they are produced, we love getting them. Who wouldn't like to read:

Dear Mrs. Patsy Perlman:

Birdwatching is a frolic. I was enchanted that you talked to us about birds.

Kenneth

Thank you for showing and teaching us about trees and birds. I liked when we petted the furs and saw the animal skulls in the museum.

Luke

Thank you for volunterring when you could have been doing something else. I learned a lot of facts about trees, plants, and birds. I hope you had fun because I know I did!

Cori

Dear Mrs Andrzejewski:

Thanks to you I learned about the BIG LEAF MAGNOLIA. I liked going through the forest. I'm looking forward to seeing you when I come in April for Arbor Day program.

Kenneth

Dear Mrs. Sauerborn:

Thank you for letting us come to Cylburn Arboretom. I learned that all trees are special. I learned that trees help birds and birds help trees.

Steven

I learned about hummingbirds. I did not know the eggs were so small. I also liked the parakeet that is exstinct now. I learned that people used to shoot them. I learned about the sugar maple tree. It might be fun to climb because the branches are so fat and near the ground.

Jennifer

I wonder what your favorite bird is. Mine is the blue jay and the red robbin.

Sherene

Thank you for volunterring. I know you don't get paid.

Thomas

No, we don't get paid for guiding school groups through the mansion and along the trails at Cylburn. But don't you agree with Kenneth: "Birdwatching is a frolic." ? And while you are birdwatching wouldn't you like to help to open our young visitors' eyes to the big leaf magnolia, the sugar maple tree with its fat branches close to the ground, the museum's hummingbird nest with its small eggs, along with all the other sights and smells, sounds and textures of Cylburn? After all, our most important reason for being as a society is "to promote knowledge and conservation of wildlife and to foster an appreciation of the natural environment and a better understanding of its ecology and its reciprocal relationship to human life." Where better to do this than at Cylburn?

For more information and to get on Patsy Perlman's volunteer list, call her at 466-3998.

Joy Wheeler

April 10, 1994

Singapore, at the top of the Malay Peninsula, is not quite "over the edge." It's too civilized for that. One of the highlights is Jurong Bird park, the largest collection of birds I've ever seen. It's great for photography! There are plenty of wild birds flying around town including Black-naped Orioles, Mynas, Jungle Crows, Coppersmith Barbets, White-bellied Fishing Eagles, Chinese Spotted Doves and Eurasian Tree Sparrows instead of House Sparrows!

Hank Kaestner

I was one of two Baltimoreans on a late April birding trip to Texas. The other members of the group, which numbered twenty, were from Baltimore, Howard, Harford, Montgomery and Caroline counties. The trip was sponsored and led by Phil and Barbara Davis, owners of the Wild Bird Center in Columbia, Md.

We arrived in Houston about 1:30 PM on Saturday, and members were thrilled to spot Scissor-tailed Flycatchers at the airport. We climbed into two vans and headed straight to Jones State Forest, where we saw the Brown-headed Nuthatch, The Red-cockaded Woodpecker, and the Red-headed Woodpecker. We spent the night in Silsbee, Texas, and at 6 AM the next morning headed out to the Bolivar Peninsula, a point of land surrounded by Galveston Bay on one side, and the Gulf of Mexico on the other. Located here is High Island, famous among birders as a first landfall for neo-tropical migrants from Central and South America. The Houston Audubon Society operates two nature sanctuaries, where birders can have the thrill, as I did, of seeing Summer and Scarlet Tanagers, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Painted and Indigo Buntings, and warblers too numerous to name. Purple Martins, Barn, and Rough-winged Swallows swooped overhead.

The next day we visited another sanctuary, Bolivar Flats, where shorebirds were abundant. Least, Royal and Sandwich Terns mingled with White Pelicans, plovers, gulls, cormorants, skimmers, herons, egrets, and Roseate Spoonbills. We didn't know where to look first. Calls of "Reddish Egret!" interrupted cries of "Semipalmated Plover!" and heads swiveled in an effort to see them all.

We also visited Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, where we saw crocodiles and nutrias sharing the marshes with Black-bellied and Fulvous Whistling Ducks. There were Coots, Moorhens and Purple Gallinules. A Yellow-crowned Night Heron was seen at Brazos Bend State Park. Later in the week on Galveston Island we saw Least Bitterns, Soras, and rails. At various times and places we saw Horned Larks, a Bobwhite, Common Nighthawks, a Peregrine Falcon, and Barn Owls.

All together we tallied 184 species. Some experienced birders saw 13 to 15 life-birds. As a novice, I listed over 40 life-birds. The group was congenial, and a spirit of camaraderie prevailed. All in all, it was a memorable experience.

Irma Weinstein

In July 1993 Shawn Dalton of the Yale School of Forestry's cooperative project with Baltimore City's Department of Parks and Recreation asked Peggy Bohanan to help her access the value to birds of the park land on the west side of Hillen Road from just north of Woodbourne Avenue to where it intersects with Loch Raven Blvd. It was a hot afternoon and you may be sure that the birds were scarce. But we agreed that the thick, almost undisturbed rich woods should hold great potential for migrating and breeding birds; that is, if the heavily traveled roads, Hillen Road and Northern Parkway, the Mount Pleasant Golf Course to the east, and an elementary school with numerous apartments and row homes to the west and south hadn't caused too much disruption to the birds seeking territories among the mature beech and oak woods. After all, Herring Run and a few of its small tributaries go right through what long ago used to be called a "bird sanctuary." Running water is always a magnet for migrating songbirds.

On Saturday May 7, 1994 we got to prove how right we were. In just three hours on a gray, cool morning with 15 beginning birdwatchers, we encountered 31 species of birds, many of them seen well by all, many of heard clearly by all, but only identified by the leader: a Great Blue Heron accompanied in the sky by one lone Chimney Swift, two species of woodpeckers, both in nesting pairs, a Veery, Wood Thrushes caroling constantly, a Red-eyed Vireo, five species of warblers, with many seeing the high-in-the canopy Chestnut-sided, but missing the low, noisily-calling Kentucky. Everyone saw the two Baltimore Orioles. No one had ever seen one before.

In Sandy Broda's welcome from the sponsoring group, the Herring Run Watershed Protection Association, she emphasized the association's goal of getting more people interested in park land for activities other than ball-playing and golf courses. She, along with the HRWPA would like to see more recreation opportunities of a "passive" nature, as he put it. Hence her scheduling of the May 7 bird walk. I think that everyone present (from age 6 to 60) would agree that there was nothing "passive" about their participation that day.

Sandy is one of our newest BBC members. we hope she continues to call on us for birding assistance with Herring Run and its watershed.

Joy Wheeler

Gail Frantz has responded to Joy Wheeler's call for someone to resume doing a column on birds in the yards of our members. Gail writes, "If Chip Notes wants to continue Bertie MacGregor's birds in our backyard column, I'd be willing to give it a try. The contacts I've had with Bertie over the last twenty years were always wonderful, warm, and fuzzy."

You may recall from our previous issue that it was Gail who had 300 Redpolls in her yard last winter. She is about as devoted to feeding birds as anyone could be, and a delightful person to talk to. Let Gail know about the birds in your yard. You can call her at 833-7135, or write to:

April 16, 1994

Over the edge this time. I'm on an island called Christmas Island, located north of Australia and south of Java, Indonesia. It's Australian territory now. 21 species of birds breed here, 4 of them (a booby, frigatebird, imperial pigeon & white-eye) found nowhere else! There are tens of thousands of sea-birds that breed here. They are very tame and photography is fun and easy. I'll have to do a Balto. Bird Club slide show on this place.

Hank Kaestner

The deadline for material for the next Chip Notes is September 1, 1994. Send material to Steve Sanford, 8412 Downey Dale Dr, Randallstown MD 21133.

A belated thanks to all who participated in this important count day. I hope everyone had as rewarding a day as your compiler did in the Harbor area. The county as a whole had a very successful day - 175 species total, with 15,686 individuals counted. All efforts, from the enduring to the spectacular, are greatly appreciated - and of course I'll be calling on you all again next year!

High points include a good quantity of rails garnered by those brave enough to spend all night in a swamp; catbirds and House wrens showing a (temporary) edge over mockingbirds and Carolina wrens; interesting shorebirds, (principally from Hart-Miller Island) includ- ing Ruddy Turnstone, Whimbrel, White-rumped Sandpip- er, and Black-bellied plover. There is good evidence that Willow Flycatchers are breeding in our area when the habitat is right. We also had a respectable showing of Least Terns (26 in all).

On the down side, the number of Belted Kingfishers was depressed from previous counts - possibly the results of the hard winter. Only nine appeared on the count. Continuing a sad trend, field birds including Eastern Meadowlark, Field Sparrow, Horned Lark, and Grasshopper Sparrow had a showed very poorly - hardly any were counted.

The hardest part about having all these numbers in hand is trying to draw meaningful conclusions from them. Bird populations will fluctuate from year to year, and we tend to bird in places we enjoy. These factors contribute to the fluctuations we see on these counts. If you read the articles written about May counts in years past, you can't help but draw the conclusion that the larger the pool of data (i.e., bird sightings) ,the better knowledge one will ultimately gain. The greatest honor we can do to that which we care about is to add to the knowledge pertaining to it. One way to accomplish this to add reliable data to the pool that the M.O.S., has been building for fifty years. When our federal government gets around to approving some form of a biological survey, we shall be ready. If we keep excellent records, we may not need a sanctioned biological survey at least with regard to Aves.

See the species list and count on page 11.

Leanne Pemburn

The Baltimore Bird Club has launched an ambitious new project: a birding site guide to Baltimore City and County. Bob Rineer has volunteered to be in charge. As always, we need many volunteers in all aspects of the project. Call Bob at 391-8499 if you can help with artwork, maps, scouting areas, knowledge of the areas, typing, or anything else.

We have identified approximately 25 sites to survey for this project. In the next issue of Chip Notes we will publish a sample site description and the list of the proposed sites to be covered in the final edition. This is the time to get in on the ground floor and work on this project.

We need help from our members in generating publicity for the Bird Club, and with our school programs. If you would like to consider becoming involved, please call Sukon Kanchanaraksa at 358-5920.

Please note the Irish Grove Work-n-Bird weekend, originally published as taking place on November 5-6, will take place on October 29-30.

Each year the Maryland Ornithological Society (MOS) offers scholarships for Maryland teachers and others who work with young people to attend one-week summer workshops in ecology or ornithology at Audubon camps. In 1994 five ecology scholarships and one in ornithology were awarded. In 1995 an additional scholarship will be added, thanks to the Kent County Chapter of MOS. For this Scholarship preference will be given to residents of the Eastern Shore.

The Audubon Ecology Workshops are located at camps in Connecticut, Maine, and Wyoming. Taught by highly qualified instructors, each course is an intensive study of the local ecology, including lectures, field trips, and projects. Those who have attended the workshops rave about the experience. They have awakened to the call of a loon, heard the sea waves lapping against a rocky coast, followed paths blazed by mountain sheep, and stalked screech owls at night. They have learned to better understand and protect the wild creatures and wild places that they love. They say that the experience has enriched the rest of their lives.

Anyone interested in applying for one of these scholarships should call Annette Drummond for information at 252-7197. The deadline for applications is January 31, 1995.

Annette Drummond

BEGINNING BALANCE $21,499.54

Receipts:

Membership dues $8,345.00
Donations 1607
Interest, Savings Account 438.54
Interest, Checking Account 101.98
interest, Museum Self Insurance Fund 88.93
Checklists, Patches, etc 264.65

Total Receipts 10,846.10

32,345.64

Expenditures:

Dues to MOS 4,100.00
Memberships and Donations 805
Chip Notes 1,224.48
Miscellaneous Printing 629
Youth Education 450
Museum: Taxidermy, Permit, etc. 399
Checklists, Patches, etc. 55
Operating Expenses 1,280.65
Committee Expenses 643.61

Total Expenditures -9,586.74

ENDING BALANCE - April 30, 1994 $22,758.90

Robert C. Wood, Treasurer

This was the season to be a'birding, all right. I hope you got out into the field at least once during the months of April and May this year. We had good weather for the most part and the birds were fairly cooperative.

The stack of mail from the trip leaders was impressively thick for this issue (1 1/2", actually). The table below shows the vital statistics and highlights of the 18 (!) field trips for which we received reports this month:

Page 4

But wait, that's not all ...

Sometime in August, it got reasonably cool for a minute and we had a field trip;

August 21 - The day dawned surprisingly crisp. They had been predicting temperatures in the 90's, but the 26 who turned out for Gene Scarpulla s trip to the Delaware Bay Shore were wishing they d brought a sweater in the mid-60 degree weather that the previous night s front brought in. We are so fickle.

The usual Bay-shore trek starts at Bombay Hook (N.W.R.) then moves south to Port Mahon Rd. in Leipsic, ending at Ted Harvey W.M.A. (of Whiskered Tern fame). We did not deviate from this pattern as we consumed the day in the company of Sandpipers, Terns and Gulls, mosquitoes, green-headed flies and gnats. One of the goodies we hoped for was the White-winged Tern that Gene had seen the previous day. We got it, but not the way we would have preferred.

The Hook' was happenin '. We spent the entire morning there and

garnered- 16 species of shore birds including Black-bellied and Semipalmated Plovers. Least and Semi' Sandpipers, Lesser and Greater 'legs', both races of Short-billed Dowitchers, Black-necked •Stilts and some excellent close-ups of Wilson 's Phalaropes. Gene has birded the Bay-shore nearly every weekend this summer and was able to provide superb insights into these subtle creatures who deftly elude us by standing right out there in front of us.

Later, we mounted our caravan and took lunch by the side of Port Mahon Rd. Here we added Ruddy Turnstone and Sanderling to the list. The sun was high in the sky by this time, proving us fools for thinking that there was a respite from summer. In mid-August. Sheesh,

Ted Harvey proved to be a haven for Red Knots. Black Skimmers and masses of peeps. After a pleasant hour of scanning the flats, we departed - just in time to catch a pair of Black Terns coursing over the marshes. - : ::^-' '^ •

By late afternoon, we were well^ roasted and ready for serving. This did not stop us from returning to Bombay Hook for another go 'round. We gazed over shimmering impoundments filled with the hope of turning up another species or two before giving up and going home. There was the entertaining half-hour watching the slow, cautious ambling of a pair of young Clapper Rails on the marsh side of Bear Swamp and the pleasant glow when we turned up no fewer than 13 Hudsonian Godwits. By 5:30, though, we'd had our fill and were ready for dinner at the Boondocks - almost.

Leanne can't help having one last look. I've learned this in our years of birding together and I don't begrudge it even when my stomach is growling and my brain is thoroughly baked. She has this instinct. As the cars were pulling away, we slowed down and looked back over Bear Swamp. "That's not a Forster 's Tern. " she said. The next thing I knew we were in reverse.

The bird was circling away - heading back to the other side of the pool. As it flew, we would momentarily spot the darkness on the underside of its wings. "That's it," she said, "That's the White- winged Tern! " We jumped out of the car and started waving frantically as the last of our group disappeared behind the trees. It was too late. We settled our scope on the bird, now sitting on a mud flat, noting the ear patches and dark line on the back of its head. We looked at each other and said, "They 're going to kill us." They didn 't, of course, but would you blame them?

P.S. I called Gene to confirm some details of the trip. The 63rd species of the day was seen by him alone, after the torrential rains abated: two calling Great Horned Owls.

August 28 - The date of the first of this year's Self-Guided Walks at Cylburn.

Joseph Lewandowski was there and sent this note;

-"Eol^those of-you -missed "a" birding experience on August 28th, you should have considered the bird walk at Cylburn. Four intrepid birders braved a gorgeous day to see nature at its finest. The gardens at Cylburn were in full bloom. Reds, yellows, blues and purples were just some of the many colored flowers that sparkled with the vitality of life. Not to be outdone, butterflies were out in force. Swallowtails, Monarchs and Cabbage butterflies were everywhere. The cicadas were presenting their summer song and, of course, the birds were singing. While several birds were identified by song alone, the following were also seen:

Chipping Sparrow, Cardinal, Chickadee, Cat Bird, Mockingbird, Robin and Flicker. We must admit that several species flew by which escaped our watchful eye but Mother Nature made up for it in ways too numerous to mention. "

Compiled by Mark Pemburn

For several reasons the field trip to Piney Run last March 27 was not allowed to be a washout. First, as I sat in my car in steady rain wondering if anyone else would show up in defiance of the prediction of continuing rain, I decided that since it was a scheduled BBC trip, I would produce a list for it, even if it would be a short list. Secondly, someone else did show up and two is a quorum and a group for sure. Third, Bruce Dwyer, a friend and fellow birder since childhood, was eager to try a new set of foul (fowl?) weather gear. Fourth (or last, and certainly not least), my teenage son informed me about midnight that he was driving around with the fuel gauge on E and the engine quit as he was pulling up the driveway. '

I had to get up extra early, hope the car would start (it did) and could be backed out of the driveway (it was, I didn't have to push it) thus freeing the other car (which had gas, but would be needed by my wife later in the morning, take the other car to a gas station with a can and hope the place was open (it was), go home and improvise a way of getting the gas past the little spring-loaded door in the fuel receptacle (my gas can had lost its nozzle, I used a skinny vacuum cleaner attachment slightly modified with a hacksaw), relax and eat a bowl of cereal, drive back to the gas station in my car and fill the tank, then head for Piney Run contemplating all that.

Burton Alexander

As birdwatchers, we are sometimes called nature-lovers and are asked many questions about natural history. One key question that is usually asked is what is extinction why is it so important to preserve species. I think we all know that extinction is the loss of a species from the biosphere we call Earth; but do we know why an animal becomes extinct.

Animals are prone to extinction if they are naturally rare. If an animal lives' in one location, changes to that location can wipe out the population. Animals may have specific food or nesting requirements. If lost, the animal will perish. Some animals are sensitive to change and cannot adapt to the change that occurs in their habitat. Animals may have to compete with non- native species. Animals with small brood sizes or long gestation periods may not be able to recover rapidly if the population size drops. Animals that migrate are faced with a variety of habitats. If one changes, the animal may suffer. Finally, animals may interfere with people's activities. If this interference is severe, the animals will be eliminated or their habitat destroyed.

Birds are excellent examples of an animal species that is prone to extinction. Now, more than ever, we can not merely say that habitat destruction and pollution reduce species diversity. We must be armed to give specific examples and promote habitat protection and restoration. Most importantly, species diversity is responsible for the food we eat and the medicine we use. Changes to tnis unique diversity may change the ecosystem that provides us with clean air, clean water, and a liveable climate. The animal or plant that we lose today may hold the key to the disease cure of tomorrow.

Joseph M. Lewandowski

It's the talk of the town. Everybody's gone surfin ' on the Internet - the Information Super-highway. What you seldom hear is: how do I get there?

Perhaps we should start with why should I? Briefly, the Internet is a vast, unruly mass of computer systems that have been tied together in a seemingly ad hoc hock fashion by a bunch of visionaries in the academic community. Until recently, access to the Internet was restricted to academe. Within the past year, however, the forces of technology coupled with new attitudes in government have opened the flood gates to make literally tons of information available to the public at negligible cost. Given this fact, anyone with a special interest - of nearly any kind - has a forum for exchanging information with others who share that interest anywhere on earth.

So, how. To gain access to the information on the 'Net, you need the following things:

The first three elements are common currency. Assuming you own a computer, modems start at less than $100.00 and the communication software is either already installed on the computer when you buy it or comes with the modem when you buy it. Please note: if you decide to buy an internal modem, have a qualified computer specialist install it. I speak from hard experience.

The next part is the provider. There are several commercial providers who charge a nominal monthly or yearly fee to give you some or all of the following:

As I mentioned earlier, the Internet was restricted to the students and faculty of major universities until a short time ago. Once the efficacy of selling access to this information became apparent to people in the computer industry, several companies sprang up to offer it to anyone who could pay. Among these are America Online, CompuServe and Delphi. I'll give some phone numbers at the end of this article.

More recently still, local government has provided the means through grants and volunteer service to give free Internet access to anyone with the basic equipment. Right now, if you dial 605-0500 with your modem, you will be connected to a free service of the Enoch Pratt Library . The system is called Sailor and is the pilot for a state-wide program that will make Internet (and related) services available to Marylanders. To give you an example of what you can do, I called Sailor just a few minutes ago and downloaded an article on N.W.R. management that was placed on the system by the Delaware Valley Ornithological Society. Here's how you can do it:

8. Explore!

At present, Sailor does not offer Internet E-mail addresses. They plan to do so in the near future and there will be a charge for this service (not specified at this time). In the mean time, users can "surf" Sailor's ocean of resources, join electronic conversations and download files free of charge.

America Online (703) 448-8700 CompuServe (614) 457-8600 Delphi (617) 491-3393 Genie (301) 251-6415 Prodigy (914) 448-8000

Mark Pemburn

At the end of July, I took a 1- hour boat ride out of Jonesport Maine to Machias Seal Island to photograph Atlantic Puffins at their summer nesting site. There are four permanent blinds overlooking the Puffin colonies on this rocky island, so you can observe and photograph at close range without disturbing these delightful birds, we were able to observe the adults bringing fish in their mouths to the young in their burrows below the rocks, just a few feet from the blinds. After the nesting season the Puffins spend the rest of the year on the open seas of the North Atlantic Ocean.

Also nesting on the island are Arctic Terns and Razorbill Auks. On the boat ride to the island, out at sea we saw the Greater Shearwater, Northern Gannet and Black Guillemot.

Janet Lewis

See article on Page 1 for a discussion of the highlights

To put bird seed in feeders at Cylburn Arboretum - once a week through April.Your help would be geratly appreciated in this worthy activity. Also, it's a fun thing to do !

Please call Mitchell Gerber at 466-7372.

Wanted: Flip-lock tripod.

If anyone has one that is not being used, Iwill be happy to buy it. They are no longer being made, and mine is unsteady on its last legs.

Call Peggy Bohanan, (410) 728-3048.

Joy Wheeler, celebrating 30 years in her Towson home, watched with enormous plea- sure last July 17 as a Bobwhite moved with careful and deliberate steps through her yard. Joy believes at least 8 or 10 years have passed since she last saw a Bobwhite in her area.

In June Margaret Mays of Woodensburg noticed mud splatters spread over the siding under the roof of her newly remodeled, nostalgic, old-timey, wrap-around porch. She carefully cleaned up the mess, only to have it appear again. None of her six boys or her daughter would own up to having made the mess. Finally, tiring of what had become a daily job, she scrutinized the area more care- fully. Her inspection revealed a newly constructed bird's nest, seven feet above the porch floor, wedged between the coach-style porch light and the siding. At last the mystery was solved. Further observation revealed the nest's architects to be two King- birds. Now the smeared mudballs were al- lowed to remain undisturbed, and the May's family watched with fascination over the next few weeks as the eggs were laid, incubated, hatched, and four new Kingbirds successfully fledged. !

H. H. Harrison's A Field Guide to Bird's Nests, lists many odd nesting sites chosen by Kingbirds, including inside a Purple Martin colony gourd and an electric street light reflector.

Steve Sanford's Norway maple was eating up his yard. These trees are considered invasive and they will crowd out native species. He attacked the problem and disposed of the culprit. In its place Steve now has grass, flowers, a hummingbird feeder, and brief visits from real Rubythroats to go with it!

A bright Magnolia Warbler in Woodensburg spent August 12 flitting from tree to tree. That lovely treat was followed, a few days later, by a young male Blue Grosbeak that remained in the area for more than two weeks.

Let us hear about your Back Yard Birding too ! ! !

My must-see bird for 1994 was Bohemian Waxwing. I had been in its turf several times over the last few years, mainly out West, without seeing any. I decided I would go to Canada or Alaska or Washington State, or absolutely wherever and whenever I could find one.

Along came the wonderful, though somewhat icy, winter of 1994. I followed a train of telephone hotline reports to discover that Massachusetts was experiencing a remarkable invasion of ... well, I'll be darned! ... Bohemian Waxwings.

So on Martin Luther King's Day weekend I launched into another mid-winter dash north. I rustled up Alan Bromberg and Marty Cribb to join me in this adventure.

On the way up we stopped in Brooklyn where we easily found a Spotted Redshank that was spending its second winter there. (It belongs in Europe.) Interestingly, it was only a few blocks from where Alan grew up. We stopped in a Burger King where we took in the rich Brooklyn accents ("music to my ears," said Alan.)

In a nutshell, though, we bombed in Massachusetts. We did see some Pine Grosbeaks, but no Boreal Chickadee despite an excruciatingly cold trudge through a deeply snow-covered field. I had told Marty and Alan, who had never seen Evening Grosbeaks, that we'd probably see plenty of them. They probably weren't mentioned on the hotlines simply because they were so common, I said. Actually, we didn't see a single one. And, of course, we found no Bohemian Waxwings. We even snuck into Vermont, but still no Waxwings. Our trip home was pure insult and injury, for it was on the day of the first of our many ice-storms of that remarkable season.

I followed the New England hotlines closely for the next few weeks. As President's Day weekend approached, the hotlines were still reporting flocks of Bohemian Waxwings in many parts of Massachusetts. Oh boy !

Alan was available and willing to try again, so we were off. The weather gave us a wonderful break. For just a few days in the midst of this period of extreme cold, the daytime temperatures reached the 50's and 60's.

After some comic relief in Connecticut on the way to Massachusetts (see Alan Bromberg's "Sloshin' in Goshen") we decided on our first full day to try for a flock of Bohemians near Windsor in the Berkshires. In Windsor itself we stopped by a house with feeders swarming (finally!) with Evening Grosbeaks. Sorry Marty -- they really do exist.

Then we reached an apple orchard with remains of apples still hanging on pathetically. They were being attacked by a large flock of Waxwings. The first ones we identified were Cedar Waxwings, but soon we spotted a few with extra white and yellow markings in the wings and cinnamon undertail coverts. Those were Bohemian Waxwings. What a relief! In fact, most of them were Bohemians.

We headed east and got pleasantly lost on some back roads between Hardwick and Barre. We were hoping for Red Crossbills but didn't find any. However we stumbled upon another flock of at least 100 Waxwings, virtually all of them Bohemians. They fluttered frequently between a large tree and the road below. Their twittering was almost a roar. It was a real feast for the eyes and ears.

On our last full day we explored the north coast. In Newburyport we found some Iceland Gulls, a long-overdue life-bird for me. Out on the ocean coast of Plum Island we found some Thick-billed Murres, lifers for both of us. Near Gloucester we found an Eared Grebe, thanks to the help of a Massachusetts birder, Sam Miller, whom we ran into by amazing coincidence a few months later in Arizona. At Halibut Point, I rested in the car while Alan took a long, icy hike in ever-increasing rain. He ran into Sam Miller again and together they found a Black Guillemot which was a lifer for Alan.

It was a good trip. Persistence paid off for the Bohemian Waxwings, and we saw lots of other good birds. We also enjoyed lots of quaint old towns, pretty countryside and seacoasts, and pleasant, friendly people, many of whom actually do speak with colorful Yankee accents. I see that a new ABA guide to birding in eastern Massachusetts has just come out. I plan to get it and anticipate returning there in the future.

Last President's Day weekend Steve Sanford and I went to Massachusetts to stalk the wily Bohemian Waxwing and other avian goodies showing up in that wild winter. The Ice King gave us a breather; it was sunny and mild, with snow and ice melting everywhere. En route, we planned a stop in Goshen, Connecticut, where the local hotline had reported the state's first Bohemian Waxwing, as well as Red Crossbills, a bird I much desired. I must admit I was rather suspicious about the whole thing, because the hotline said to turn right at a field with a Rough-legged Hawk. Rough-legged Hawks are not exactly reliable road signs! Reaching Goshen, we somehow found the road (but not the hawk) and took it to an unpaved road where we were supposed to turn left.

There we spotted three seedy characters sporting binoculars. Binoculars! They must be birders! We asked them about the waxwings and crossbills only to learn that the former had not been seen that day, while the latter had been glimpsed at a distance. However, if we wanted "some action," we should go down the unpaved road and take the second left to a line of feeders, where we would find Evening Grosbeaks, Pine Siskins, and other good birds. So off we went, with me at the wheel. And soon we discovered what those guys didn't tell us - the road was mud with the consistency of warm chocolate pudding. With the car sliding and slithering all over the place, we dared not stop or even slow down, lest we become well and truly bogged down.

That road had a lot of lefts, and they were all private driveways. There was one road which seemed like it might be the one we wanted, but the car refused to go in that direction. Eventually we got out of the morass onto a paved road. We debated giving up, but decided to slog our way back through the mud to that side road. I gunned the engine, my fists locked to the steering wheel like grim death, plowing through the gelatinous mass to the turn. It was even worse than the road we had been on, because not only was it pure goo, but it was pure goo confined in a very narrow space. But we located the feeders, found a spot where we could stop without sinking out of sight, and, lo and behold, we saw: House Finches, House Sparrows, and a Goldfinch or two. And that's all, folks. We bade farewell to Goshen as fast as the mud would permit.

I am convinced that there were never any Bohemian Waxwings in Goshen. I am convinced that those three men were not birders. I am convinced that the report of waxwings in Goshen was a scam cooked up by those guys to lure unsuspecting birders to Goshen, send them into a sea of mud, then charge them $200 to tow them out when they bogged down. So if you ever hear a report of really good birds in Goshen, Connecticut, DON'T GO !

Oh yes, we did find lots of Bohemian Waxwings in Massachusetts. But I never did get my Red Crossbills.

The board of directors met on September 12. A major topic of discussion was obtaining a display to be used at the 1995 MOS conference and other public events. Patsy Perlman was named to visit Accent, a company which sells folding tabletop displays to examine their products, and a committee was appointed to explore options for the display. The Board also discussed having BBC members serve as counselors for Boy Scouts trying to earn the bird study merit badge and supporting an effort at Govans Elementary School to establish a garden with bird feeders. Bob Rineer is preparing a trail book of birding sites in Baltimore County and would like volunteers to assist in the project. The board voted unanimously to sponsor the trail book. The board discussed ways to obtain more publicity for BBC activities. We need someone to volunteer to handle publicity for the club and would welcome a volunteer. The board adopted a suggestion to have members of the club wear name tags on field trips and at First Tuesday meetings so that members can get acquainted more easily.

At the October 10 meeting, Patsy Perlman presented samples of the display boards offered by Accent. Board members were concerned about the cost of Accent's products, and it was decided to contact another company which sells such items and also to explore the possibility of making up a display ourselves. The MOS wants both a pin and a patch for the 1995 conference, which marks the 50th anniversary of the society. The MOS is holding a contest for anyone interested in designing pins and patches. The deadline for entries is December 31. Discussions are still going on with the Boy Scouts to have BBC members serve as counselors for scouts wanting the bird study merit badge. We have applications for anyone who would like to become a counselor. Similar arrangements with the Girl Scouts are al;so being made. Bob Rineer will publish a list of sites for the trail book in Chip Notes and will ask for members to help survey the sites and prepare the descriptions.

Alan Bromberg

??

And look at this. There are 86 species of Starlings !

Rusty-winged Starling		Greater Blue-eared Glossy-Starling
Mountain Starling		Lesser Blue-eared Glossy-Starling
Pohnpei Starling		Southern Blue-eared Glossy
Samoan Starling		Sharp-tailed Glossy-Starling
Mysterious Starling		Splendid Glossy-Starling
Rarotonga Starling		Principe Glossy-Starling
Polynesian Starling		BurcheU's Glossy-Starling
Striated Starling		Meves' Glossy-Starling
Micronesian Starling		Long-tailed Glossy-Starling
Tanimbar Starling		Rueppell's Glossy-Starling
Singing Starling		Superb Starling
Atoll Starling		Chestnut-bellied Starling
Rennell Starling		Shelley's Starling
Brown-winged Starling		Hildebrandt's Starling
San Cristobal Starling		Sharpe's Starling
Moluccan Starling		Abbott's Starling
Short-tailed Starling		Violet-backed Starling
Asian Glossy Starling		Magpie Starling
Metallic Starling		Babbling Starling
Long-tailed Starling		Fischer's Starling
Yellow-eyed Starling		African Pied Starling
White-eyed Starling		White-crowned Starling
Stuhlmann's Starling		Golden-breasted Starling
Kenrick's Starling		Ashy Starling
Narrow-tailed Starling		Madagascar Starling
White-collared Starling		Spot-winged Starling
Waller's Starling		Wattled Starling
Pale-winged Starling		White-faced Starling
Tristram's Starling		Chestnut-tailed Starling
Red-winged Starling		White-headed Starling
Somali Starling		Brahminy Starling
Socotra Starling		Red-billed Starling
Chestnut-winged Starling		Daurian Starling
Slender-billed Starling		Chestnut-cheeked Starling
White-billed Starling		White-shouldered Starling
Bristle-crowned Starling		Rosy Starling
Iris Glossy-Starling		Common Starling
Copper-tailed Glossy-Starling		Spotless Starling
Purple-headed Glossy-Starling		White-cheeked Starling
Black-bellied Glossy-Starling		Asian Pied Starling
Purple Glossy-Starling		Black-collared Starling
Red-shouldered Glossy-Starling		Vinous-breasted Starling
Bronze-tailed Glossy-Starling		Black-winged Starling

By Gail Frantz

January 31, 1995

The Nominating Committee submits its list of nominees for the Board of Directors for 1995-1996. All members (except juniors) with dues paid for 1994-1995 are eligible to vote. Husband and wife membership entitles each spouse to one vote. Please mark your ballot. Ballots must be received by Brent and Mary Byers by April 24, 1995.

Name	Size	Body Color	Bill Color	Leg Color	Other Considerations
LARGE SIZE: Great Blue Heron	42"	Slate Blue	Yellowish	Greenish Yellow	White about head, black stripe extends above eye, foreneck streaked black
Great Egret	38"	White	Yellow	Black
MEDIUM SIZE: Tricolored Heron	26"	Slate Blue; with White Underparts	Yellowish	Greenish Yellow
Little Blue Heron (Adult)	24"	Slate Blue	Pale Blue w/ Black Tip	Dull Green	Breeding: head and neck reddish purple
Little Blue Heron (Immature)	24"	White	Pale Blue w/ Black Tip	Dull Greenish Yellow	Feet dark green
SMALL SIZE: Cattle Egret	20"	White	Yellow	Yellowish	Neck short and thick Breeding Male: buffy head, back, and breast with coral legs.
Snowy Egret	22"	White	Black	Black	Feet yellow
Green Heron	14"	Back: Greenish slate Neck: Reddish, Belly: White, Crown: Dark	Upper mandible dark, Lower mandible yellowish	Yellowish	Breeding Male: bright orange legs

Earl Palmer, a past President of the Baltimore Bird Club, was the recipient of an OUTSTANDING TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARD from the Board of Education for Baltimore County. The award is in recognition of his work with the Beginning Birding Series, one of the courses offered as part of the County's Continuing Education Program.

Common Loon             4   Snowy Owl                 1
P B Grebe               6   Short-eared Owl           1
Gt.Cormorant            1   Kingfisher                8
DC Cormorant           12   Red Bellied Wpkr         47
G B Heron              48   Sapsucker                 1
Great.Egret             1   Downy Wpkr.              79
B C N Heron             4   Hairy Wpkr               11
Tundra Swan            12   Flicker                  31
Mute Swan              12   Blue Jay                104
Canada Goose          177   American Crow           615
Black Duck             80   Fish Crow                18
Mallard              1089   Crow Sp                  42
Pintail                 1   Crows Total             675
Shoveler                6   Chickadee               174
Gadwall                69   Titmouse                 72
Wigeon                 53   W B Nuthatch              6
Canvasback           4341   Brown Creeper            11
Redhead                 1   Carolina Wren            97
Ring-necked Duck        1   Winter Wren              10
Greater Scaup          21   Marsh Wren                7
Lesser Scaup          332   G C Kinglet               8
(Scaup Sp.)          n/a    RC Kinglet               21
(Scaup Total)         353   Bluebird                  3
Oldsquaw                6   Hermit Thrush            14
Goldeneye             207   Robin                  1062
Bufflehead            378   Catbird                   7
Hooded Merganser       81   Mockingbird             109
Com. Merganser          4   Brown Thrasher          CW
R B Merganser          11   Cedar Waxwing            85
Merg. Sp.            n/a    Starling               3938
Ruddy Duck           4278   Myrtle Warbler           48
Black Vulture           1   Pine Warbler              1
Turkey Vulture          1   Cardinal                187
Harrier                 4   Towhee                   11
Sharpie                 6   Tree Sparrow             54
Cooper's Hawk           5   Field Sparrow            16
R Shoulder             13   Savannah Sparrow         27
Red Tail Hawk          18   Fox Sparrow              12
Kestrel                15   Song Sparrow            564
Peregrine               2   Swamp Sparrow            80
Pheasant               12   White-Throat            830
Virginia Rail           1   Junco                   421
Coot                   37   Snow Bunting             87
Kuldeer                95   Red-wg Blackbird       1181
Corn. Snipe             1   Rusty Blackbird           1
Bonaparte's Gull      515   Com. Grackle              8
Ring-billed Gull     3763   Cowbird                  16
Herring Gull          439   House Finch             215
Gt.Black-bkGull       140   Goldfinch                40
Pigeon (R.D.)        1142   House Sparrow           610
Mourning Dove         624   97 species
Great Homed Owl         3   Compiled by Pete Webb