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SOUTH D AK OT A BIRD NOTE,S
Official Publication
of
SOUTH DAKOTA ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION
(Organized 1949)
Vol. XXIV, No.1 MARCH, 1972 Whole No. 92
Black-Throated Sparrow (Center)House Sparrow (Upper Left)
r
South Dakota Bird Notes, the Organ of South Dakota Ornithologists' Union, issent to all members whose dues are paid for the current year. Sustaining Members$10.00, Adults $4.00; Juniors (10-16) $2.00. Family Membership (husband andwife) with one subscription to Bird Notes $6.00. Libraries (subscription) $4.00Single and back copies: Members $1.00, Non-members $1.50. All dues should beremitted to the Treasurer, Nelda Holden, Route 1, Box 80, Brookings, S. Dak.57006. All manuscripts for publication should be sent to Co-Editor Don Adolphson,2604 Arrowhead Drive, Rapid City, S. Dak. 57701. Orders for back numbers shouldbe sent to the Librarian, Herman P. Chilson, Webster, S. Dak. 57274. PublishedQuarterly.
Vol. XXIV, No.1 March, 1972 Whole No. 92
In This Number. ..President's Page, Byron Harrell 3Notes on Four Nesting Species in the Black Hills, L. M. Baylor, Willard
Rosine and Fred Wild 4South Dakota Fall Migration, Aug. 16-Nov. 30, 1971, Esther Serr, Compiler 7General Notes of Special Interest: Invitation from North Dakota; Could It ,Be a Bobolink?; The Rescue of a Hummingbird; A Black-Throated
18Notes from Sparks' Mini-Ranch 22Spring Meeting at Mobridge 24
South Dakota Omithologists' Union
OFFICERS 1971-72President. """"'" ...Byron Harrell, 1215 Valley View Circle, Vermillion 57069Vice-President. Bruce Harris, Clear Lake 57266Secretary """""""""'" June Harter. Highmore 57345Membership Chairman. Jean Russell. 427 South Ree.. Apt. 2, Pierre 57501Treasurer... ,..., Nelda Holdeu, Rt. 1. Box 80, Brookings 57006Liaison Chairman. Jean Russell, 427 South Ree, Apt. 2, Pierre 57501Co-editor Winona Sparks. Nemo 57759Co-editor Don Adolphson. 2604 Arro\vhead Drive. Rapid City 57701Librarian Herman P. Chilson. Webster 57274
DIRECTORSFor Term Expiring 1972: Byron Harrell, Vermillion; J. W. Johnson, Huron; Herbert Krause,
Sioux Falls; B. J. Rose. Rapid City: June Harter. Highmore.
For Term Expiring 1973: Keith Evans, Rapid City: Ch~rles Rogge. Sioux Falls; Don Adolphson.Rapid City: Nelda Holden, Brookings; Lee Eberly. Vermillion.
For Term Expiring 1974; Herman Chilson, \Vebster; Will Rosine. Sioux Falls; Bruce Harris.Woousocket; N. R. \Vhitncy Jr.. Rapid City; L. .~. Baylor, Rapid City.
2 SOUTH DAKOTA BIRD NO~
1
President's Ptlle JY ESTERDAY Jim Johnson passed on necessary business done. The SDOU
to me a letter he had received followed the lead of some other groupsfrom Paul Springer who had written in other states and shifted its businessthe letter as a member of the Execu- meeting to a late fall or early wintertive Board of the North Dakota Natur- session, providing better opportunitiesal Science Society. This group, as ours, for presentation of papers and morehas problems of limited financial base time for business and more time inbecause of limited membership and the the spring meeting for field trips.expense of their quarterly periodical.
M b h b d b t1 ..
b . l . t ...em ers ave een concerne a ou
Paul suggested exp orrng pOSSI I lIes th d . dl . tt d t th f 11..e Will rng a en ance a e a
of cooperatIon to the mutual benefIt of t. d h t . d t .dh . t .mee rngs an ave ne 0 conSI er
bot orgamza Ions. h t h . ht . d tt dwac anges mlg rn uce non-a en -
Paul also invited all SDOU members ers to attend. Suggestions of discontin-to attend the spring meeting to be held uing the fall meeting have surfaced.
May 20-21 at Medora, The SDOU invests very little of itsN. Dak. Details will budget in this meeting, and I thinkappear elsewhere in that those who attended last Novem-this issue. I hope ber's meeting found it exceedinglymany of our members stimulating; thus my conclusion wouldcan attend. In this be that we should continue to havepage in our last issue these meetings as long as those attend-I suggested that we ing find it worthwhile and so long asdo a little self-exami- it is not an undue strain on the trea-nation. As part of sury. The problem is how do we sharethat I believe that the th2 values of our fall meetings withidea of exploring pos- n!.ore of our members? Is the usual
sible areas of cooperation with our date before Thanksgiving the bestnorthern neighbors is a very good one. time? Do we need earlier or betterIf some of our board members can announcement of the meeting? Aremeet with their board in Medora, we there other things we should try to docan have a basis for discussion when in the fall meeting?,!,e get toget?er at our field meeting The spring meeting has generallyrn the followrng month. been well attended and much appreci.
I would like to continue with a few ated. Gaps in our knowledge of Southcomments on SDOU, specifically our Dakota birds have shown up as themeetings. Some years ago there was check-list progresses. This has led to anjust a single meeting a year. It is not early summer meeting in the north-surprising that in the limited time western part of the state last year.available on a week end that the formal Since breeding status is more poorlypart of the meeting was less exciting .than the field trip part, and it became known than mIgratory status, other
increasingly difficult to get all the (Continued on Page 17)
MARCH, 1972 3
-
Notes on Four Nesting Species in the
Black HillsL. M. Baylor. Willard Rosine and Fred Wild
DURING the 1971 breeding season wegathered information on four
nesting species in the Black Hills.Since this information adds varyingdegrees of knowledge about the nest-ing of the Brown Creeper, Swainson'sThrush, Townsend's Solitaire, and theSolitary Vireo in the Black Hills, wewish to share the information throughthis report.
BROWN CREEPER (Certhia famili.aris)-On July 13, 1971, we found apair of adult brown creepers feedingyoung at a remarkable nest built inDr. Byron Weeth's garage at his sum-mer residence south of Rochford. Ac-cording to Bent, the creepers' typicalnest site is behind the loose bark ofa tree, or sometimes in a knothole. Bycontrast, this Black Hills nest was in a Brown Creeper and Nestcavity formed by peculiar carpentry.The rough siding did not join neatly light from a mirror into the nest andin one place at the southeast exterior counted four well-feathered little birds.corner of the garage. Pine slabs had At our next return, July 22, withthen been placed over the south face Herbert Krause and Sven Froiland, weof the garage. The brown creepers learned the outcome of this nesting.built a nest in the crowded open space Dr. Weeth reported that two youngwhere the siding did not meet. Viewed creepers fledged on July 21, 1971, andfrom its opening, this cavity measured that the adults continued to feed the15.9 centimeters high, 2.7 centimeters fledglings in the nearby ponderosas.wide, and 14 centimeters deep. The Curious as to why only two birdsbase of the nest opening was 1.6 meters fledged, Dr. Weeth inspected the nestabove the ground. and extracted five dead young creepers,
Nest materials included ponderosa the last three of which were so firmly'I needles (some of .which pr~truded far packed in t~e bottom of t~e nest that
out from the cavIty's openIng), bark, he had to dIg them out wIth a screw-and unidentified fuzzy seeds. driver. Apparently, the nest space was
The adults seemed relatively undis- so small that as the birds grew theyturbed by our presence and continued crowded each other and caused casual-to feed their young, even when we re- ties by suffocation or starvation.turned on July 18 to photograph the Bent says, "The brown creeper laysnest. At this second visit we reflected four to eight eggs to a set, most com-
4 SOUTH DAKOTA BIRD NOTES
monly five or six," but he has no re- was not otherwise damaged. Two nest-marks about nesting mortality similar lings were lost, but one escaped andto that experienced in the Black Hills survived, for in subsequent days thenest. His descriptions of typical nests Palmertons saw the adult feeding thebehind loose bark suggest that the single young fledgling in nearby bush-nests very likely are as crowded as the es. They were particularly fascinatedone we found. We thus wonder whether in watching the adult lure the confusedthe high number of eggs laid by such young bird from the nest area to safer
ra small bird is a peculiar evolutionary bushes in another part of the yard.adaptation that somewhat compensates Later, we returned to take notes on !
for relatively high nesting mortality. the nest. It was in a small river birchLimited though the nesting success (Betula occidentalis). The nest was 1.09
was, this is apparently the first fully meters above the ground, and thesubstantiated nesting of the brown ground point directly below the nestcreeper in the Black Hills. In 1965, for was 1.7 meters from the water's edge ofexample, Pettingill and Whitney were Rapid Creek.unable to list any breeding records, The bulky nest was composed exclu-though adults had been heard or col- sively of dry grasses. This fact reprc-lected during the breeding season and sents something of a variation from thean apparent family group was observed nests of ustulata forms described bynear Jewel Cave in 1947. Bent--nests that featured twigs, leaves,
SW AINSON'S mRUSH (Hylocichla moss, and a variety of other materials.ustulata) , On July 22, 1971, Krause, The external dimensions of this BlackFroiland, Rosine, and Baylor called at Hills nest were 11.4 centimeters in di-the home of Dr. and Mrs. Leighton ameter and 10.2 centimeters in depth.Palmerton, Rimrock Highway along Ra- The internal nest-cup dimensions werepid Creek about eight miles west of 6.9 centimeters in diameter and 3.9Rapid City. The Palmertons brought to centimeters in depth. These measure-our attention the carcass of a Swain- ments are within the ranges of typicalson's thrush that had killed itself by nests mentioned by Bent.flying into a window. Then we saw a In 1965, Pettingill and Whitney hadSwainson's thrush fly into a dogwood good evidence that Swains on's thrushbush. The bird made frequent trips to nests in the Black Hills, but this 1971this bush, gathered fruit (as many as observation seems to be a somewhatsix berries at a time), and flew in the more completely documented record,same general direction toward trees limited though the nesting success wasby Rapid Creek. Rosine cautiously fol- with one surviving adult feeding onelowed the thrush and located a nest surviving fledgling.containing three fairly large young TOWNSEND'S SOLITAffiE (Myades-birds. Because of the precarious nest t::s townsendi). Pettingill and Whitney'slocation near water, with only one sur- records clearly indicate the Townsend'sviving adult to feed the nestlings, we solitaire is a common permanent resi-did not gather further information at dent and breeding species in the Blackthis time. The Palmertons, however, Hills. Two nests that we found in thegraciously cooperated in observing the northern Black Hills, Terry Peak vicini-progress of this nest. ty, on July 13 and 18, 1971, seem to be
Mrs. Palmerton noted, on July 25, of interest because of their somewhat1971, that some form of nest predation late date and their proximity to eachor misfortune occurred. The nest was other. Pettingill and Whitney list thetipped out of its secure position, but nesting period as "May through June
~ARCH. 197~ 5
~
and probably July." The July estimate instances with nests ranging 10 to 22appears to be based upon a juvenile feet above the ground. The solitary vi-collected by Dilger on July 14, 1948. reo's nest that we found, July 13, 1971,
The two nests we found in mid-July at the Moonshine Gulch Picnic Ground,each contained four eggs (brown about a half mile east of Rochford, dis-splotches on a dull white background), played some rather unusual characteris-and in each instance the eggs were be- tics.ing incubated by an adult. Incubation The adult vireos, distressed by ouractivity at this late date in the breeding presence, first attracted our attentionseason seemed rather remarkable to to the nest, which held four well-devel-us. Unfortunately, we were unable to oped nestlings. When we returned toreturn to these late nests to determine photograph the nest on July 18, it wastheir success. empty but undisturbed. Presumably, the
The nests were similar in being locat- nestlings fledged successfully.ed on the south slope of a road cutbank The nest in a small birch tree wasin circumstances like those in which in the fork of a thin branch 1.8 metersone expects to find white-winged junco from the trunk, and 1.65 meters abovenests. The nests were composed of pon- the ground. Internal nest-cup dimen-derosa needles and grasses, with the sions were 2.84 centimeters in diameterneedles sloping below the nest and and 3.2 centimeters in depth.containing some bits of Usnea. These Of particular interest, however, werenest facts are generally comparable to the nest materials: dry grasses, Usnea,one of the characteristic types of soli- and white flower petals. These whitetaire nests described by Bent. Unique, petals were scattered about the exter-however, may be the fact that these nal surface of the nest and apparentlytwo nests were .45 of a mile from each had no structural function. We specu-other. Bent has no comments about nest lated on a possible camouflage func-proximity, and we find it curious that tion, but favored a purely ornamentaltwo nests of this aptly named "solitary" function.species were so near to each other. Bent, in his accounts of the various
solitarius forms, indicates this speciesis quite wide-ranging in its selectionof unusual nest materials: bits of news-paper, cellophane, gum wrappers, color-ed tissue paper, spider web, sheep'swool, red moss rootlets, and wasp-nestpaper, for example. While Bent andhis reporters seem to imply but do notspecifically say that these materialscontribute to the structural strength ofthe nest, they concur remarkably inspeaking of the pretty or beautifulquality of solitarius nests. Thus, even
Solitary Vireo Nest though we may be toying with an an-thropomorphic fallacy in wonderingwhether the white flower petals in the
SOLITARY VIREO (Vireo solitario Black Hills nest served a purely orna-us)-In the 1965 records on the solitary mental purpose, it does give us a di-vireo (Pettingill and Whitney), the mension of delight to think that even anesting information was limited to four (Continued on Page 23)
6 SOUTH DAKOTA BIRD NOTES
~
South Dakota Fall Migration
August 16-November 30, 1971Esther Serr, Compiler
REPORTERS presently teaching in North CarolinaBlack Hills Audubon Society, Rapid RN.
City, BHAS; L. M. Baylor LMB; Don GEOGRAPHICAL REFERENCESAdolphson DA; N. R. Whitney NRW; C L k .th ' R .d C' t.anyon a e WI In api I y.Bonme Green BG; Gertrude Bachman Seavey's Lake, Meade County, 12
GB; Robert Stephens RS; Horace Jack- . 1 th f R .d C' t..mi es nor 0 api I y.son HJ; Esther M. Serr EMS; ElIzabeth S D 2-.
S th teymour am, :> acres In ou wesA. Southmayd EAS; Clara Yarger CY. Perkins County; fair nesting for shore-
Alfred Hinds, Southwest Perkins birds but gra~~d closely during summer.County, Prairie City, S. Dak. AH. Lat. 45020", Long. 102046".
Bruce K. Harris, State Game and Sorum Dam, 80 acres, Southwest Per.Fish Department, Deuel and Roberts kins County; some grazing at times.Counties, Clear Lake, S. Dak. BKH. Lat. 45025", Long. 102048".
B. J. Rose, State Game and Fish De- Lake Alice, Deuel County.partment, Potter, Campbell, Stanley Missouri River Dams and Lakcs-and Hughes Counties, 1108 North Hur- Lake Sharpe below Pierre; Oahe D:lffion, Pierre, S. Dak. BJR. above Pierre; Big Bend T)am at Fort
J. W. Johnson, 1421 Utah Southeast, Thompson; Gavins Point Dam west ofHuron, S. Dak. JWJ. Yankton.
June Harter, Highmore, S. Dak. JH. Farm Island State Park below Pierre,Conrad A. Fjetland, Assistant Refuge Missouri River.
Manager, LaCreek National Wildlife Antelope Island-some south ofRefuge, Martin, S. Dak. CAF. Farm Island State Park, Missouri River.
Dr. Harold W. Wager, Cresbard, S. Stephens Dam-13 miles SoutheastDak. HWH. of Rapid City with very high selenium
Nelda Holden, Rt. 1, Box 80, Brook- content.ings, S. Dak. NH. Sand Lake, seven miles south of
Walter C. Thietje, Reliance, Lyman r"lound City, Campbell County.County, S. Dak. WCT. LaCreek National Wildlife Refuge,
Irma Weyler, "The Daily Post," Belle Southeast of Martin, S. Dak., BennettFourche, S. Dak. IW. County.
Esther Edie, 1028 Eighth Avenue, Wall Lake, Minnehaha County aboutBrookings, S. Dak. EE. eight miles west of Sioux Falls, S. Dak.
Willis Hall, 1111 Douglas Avenue, Grass Lake, Minnehaha County aboutYankton, S. Dak. WHo 14 miles northwest of Sioux Falls.
Prof. Herbert Krause, Augustana Beaver Lake, Mi~nehaha County.College, English Department, Sioux Vermillion Lake, McCook County.Falls, S. Dak. HK. ,
Dr. Gilbert Blankespoor, Augustana MISCELLANEOUS OBSERVATIONS
College, Biology Department, Sioux Alfred Hinds describes a slough justFalls, S. Dak. GB. east of Prairie City that is divided by
Dr. Ronald Nelson, Sioux Falls.-- the main highway. It has high alkaline
~ARCH, I97~ 'l
content with no outlet. This slough Creek; 9-19 (100) Spirit Lake, Kings-dries up unusually fast, but surface bury County JWJ; 10-11 (1) Grasswater level must be high as water will Lake HK; 10-16 Deuel.rise in this slough from somewhere Double-crested Cormorant-8-25 (2)with a little moisture. With the fields Wall Lake HK; 9-20 (3) Rehfeldtaround it, th~s is good shorebird h~bi- Slough HK; 9-30 (20), last 10-20 La-tat. For .a. dIs~ance of about 30 mIles Creek CAF; 11-5 (50) peak to (2) 11- .from PraIrIe City to Meadow, there are 30 Gavins Point.many such sloughs, and in a wet year Great Blue Heron-8-18 (13) 8-25like 1971 many shore birds and ducks (8) 9-20 (4) all Grass Lake Hi. 9-8were hatched there. .(1)' Highmore JH; (47) peak 9-16,'last.D~. Harold Wa?er banded 250 bIrds 11-18 LaCreek; several, Seymour Damill hIS back yard ill 1971. .AH; 10-16 Sioux Falls; 10-27 Deuel; 11-
June Harter counted 30 speCIes on 14 (1) Rapid City LMB.9-3; 24, 9-18; 23, 9-21, and 24, 9-26.
Many mice around Rapid City Green Heron~10-26 Deuel BKH; one
(BHAS). or two observed several times, AugustGenerally, the large water birds left and September WHo
LaCreek NWR during August (CAF). Common Egret-peak (4) 9-2, lastN- R. Whitney took bird census six 9-16 LaCreek CAF; 9-4 (2) Day County
miles southeast of Cottonwood, Jack- BKH.son County 9-19 and 10-10. Black-crowned Night Heron-8-31
LOON GREBE PELICAN (2), 9-11 (4),9-24 (7) Grass Lake HK;, , , 9-16 (32) LaCreek; 10-26 Deuel BKH.
CORMORANT AND HERON Yellow.crowned Night Heron-(I)Common Loon-l0-28 (12), 10-29 (5) juvenile in good light, 15 minute obser-
Lake Sharpe BJR; 11-5 (30), 11-14 (6) vation 175 feet distance near Humboldtswimming together rippling the other- HK RN' 9-12 (1) juvenile Grass Lakewise perfect calm of Lewis and Clark HK: LMB and Dr. Willard Rosine. '
LaHke WHd ' G b 10-30 10-31 (1) .-Least Bittern-8-21 (2) Grass Lake;orne re e-, Will 9-7 (1) Deuel BKH.
ter plumage, Canyon Lake NRW. .,Eared Grebe-8-16 (2 adults, 1 AmerIcan BIttern-9-11 (1) Curlew
young); 8-25 (9) Rehfeldt Slough, Min- Lake, Meade, EMS; 9-12 (2), 9-25 (1)nehaha County HK; peak of (20) 10-6, Grass Lake; 10-1 (Wall Lake) 10-22LaCreek CAF; 10-17 Deuel County Grass Lake; 11-4 LaCreek.BKH; 10-24 Sand Lake, Campbell Coun- White.faced Ibis-8-27 (3) in moistty BJR. pothole near Lost Lake, excellent light
Western Grebe-8-16 (29) 10 appear- for corroboration. Manfred Dill, Gameed to be young HK; 9-16-10-16 (24) La- Warden, and Dorwin Dejong identifiedCreek; 9-20 (12), 10-22 (2) Minnehaha; the birds with HK, GBl, RN. Probably10-24 Sand Lake (8); 10-26 Deuel; one a first for Minnehaha County.often seen until 11-15, Gavins Point. SWAN GEESE AND DUCKSPied-billed Grebe-9-5 concentration 'of 225 Day County BKH; 9-12 (10) Bea- Whistling Swan-II-5 (14) Lonever Lake, 9-28 peak (25) HK; last Can- Tree Lake BKH.yon Lake 10-31 LMB; last Deuel 11-27 Trumpeter Swan-Up to 93 includingBKH. 26 cygnets by 11-10 LaCreek CAF.
White Pelican-9-15 (1) Mud Butte, Greater Canada Goose-Up to (100)Meade AH; (86) peak through 9-30 La- 10-9 Belvidere Dam, 11-25 (40) flying
\6 SOUTH DAKOTA BIRD NOTES
no higher than 30 feet above field, (70) more than last season HK; 10-25 (6)Belvidere Dam, Jackson County EMS. Fort PietTe BJR; 9-16-10-13 (4) La-
Lesser Canada Goose-1,650 peak 10- Creek.29 LaCreek; total (60) on small dams Redhead-10-29 (100) Lake Sharpe;near Rapid City, 11-7 (23) Canyon Lake (2600) peak 10-29 LaCreek; 8-31 (21),BHAS; good flights over Perkins AH, 10-11 (1100) Humboldt, 11-5 (2) Grassand Scatterwood Lakes HWW; flock Lake; 11-30 one pair Canyon Lake.11-6 near Flandreau, Moody County Ring-necked Duck-11-12 (1) OaheNH; 10-11 (1,300) Grass and Wall Lakes Dam BJR; 10-11 (3) Grass Lake HK.HK; 11-27 (600) Gavins Point WHo Canvasback-(6925) pea k 10-29-
White-fronted Goose-(44) peak 10- highest count at LaCreek since late6, last 10-20 LaCreek; 10-27 (2000) An- 30's CAF; 8-31 (8) Grass Lake; 11-6telope Island BJR. (2), 11-10 (3) Gavin's Point WHo
Snow Goose-Two most of period, Lesser Scaup-(120) peak 10-3 Can-LaCreek; 10-4 (4), 10-29 (150), 10-31 yon Lake; (5255) peak 10-29 LaCreek;(127) Minnehaha County HK; (1) sev- thousands Lake Sharpe 10-29 BJR;eral times with geese and mallard first seen 11-6 Gavins Point; 10-22 (21),through 11-27 WHo 10-30 (20) Grass Lake.
Blue Goose-(l) 10-20-11-16 LaCreek; Common Goldeneye-F i r s t 10-30,10-29 (100) Humboldt, 10-31 (75) Sioux (80) peak 11-28 Canyon Lake; first 11-Falls HK. 4, (74) peak 11-18 LaCreek; 10-30 (9)
Mallard-10-28 thousands Missouri Humboldt HK; first 11-9 almost dailyRiver BJR, 10-29 about 48,000 LaCreek, up to 18 Gavins Point WHo11-18 (8500) CAF; not plentiful this Barrow's Goldeneye-Second winterseason in Minnehaha County HK; 11-29 for one on Canyon Lake, first 11-7 and(18,000) on a cloudy day with a slight four times to 11-30 LMB, NRW.south wind WHo Buffiehead-10-17-11-7 (8) Canyon
Gadwall-(80) peak 11-7 Canyon Lake; (855) peak 10-29 LaCreek; 10-30Lake; (4300) peak LaCreek; many (17)-11-5 (41) Humboldt HK; first 11-9Pierre 10-29; 9-11 and 9-12 few, Grass Gavins Point.Lake. White-winged Scoter-11-29 and 11-
Green-winged Teal-10-1 (2), 10-16 30 (1) Gavins Point WHo(2) Grass Lake HK; 10-11 (6) Canyon Surf Scoter-10-17 (four immatures)Lake; (2800) peak LaCreek 10-6. at distance, Lake Alice, Deuel; 10-25
Blue-winged Teal-9-15 (10) Canyon crippled specimen collected; 10-27Lake; 9-19 (4) Cottonwood NRW; (three immatures) BKH.(2800) peak 9-16 LaCreek; (15) peak Ruddy Duck-8-27 (one adult, eight10-11, (4) 10-16 Grass Lake HK. young), 10-16 (35), 10-30 (12), 11-5
Pintail-Very small supply in Minne- (22) Beaver Lake, Minnehaha HK; 10-haha, 8-6 (3) Grass Lake HK. 31 (6) Canyon Lake; (470) peak La-
American Widgeon-(6500) peak 9- Creek 10-28 CAF.16 LaCreek; 10-27 (2) Canyon Lake; Common Merganser-First 11-7, peak(15) peak 10-11, (4) 10-16 Grass Lake. (10) 11-21 Canyon Lake LMB; first 10-
Shoveler-775 peak LaCreek; 10-29 29 LaCreek; 11-15 (450) Big Bend Dammany with Gadwalls, Pierre BJR; 10-31 NRW; first 11-6, (600) peak 11-25 Ga-(30) Canyon Lake; (28) peak 10-1 to vins Point WHo(4) 11-5 Grass Lake HK. Hooded Merganser-None for second
Wood Duck-Adult and young sever- year, Canyon Lake LMB; 11-10 (1) La-al times, August and September WH; Creek; 10.24 (1) Sand Lake, Campbell;9-12 (30) Sioux Falls Sewage Plant- 10-30 one pair Farm Island BJR.
~c~, 1972 9
HAWKS AND EAGLES ty NRW; 10-13 (1) Haakon CountyTurkey Vulture-10-2 Goodwin, Deu- BJR.
el BKH; last 11-21 BHAS; 10-28 Reli- Osprey-l0-5 Farm Island BJR; 10-5-ance, Lyman, WeT. 10-12 Bonnie Green's yard on Rapid
Sharp-shinned Hawk-l0-6 LaCreek; Creek. .10-16 took House Sparrow BG; 10-7 .Gyrfalcon-II-21,. 11-28 sIngles 25specimen, Rapid City NRW; 11-9 (1) mIles north of PIerre, Sully Countygood light perched 10 minutes at 75 BJR. .feet Sioux Falls HK Marsh Hawk-l0-6 Hlghmore; 10-7
" '. (7) Pennington BHAS; 10-7 (4) Ard-1Coope~ s Hawk-9-11 Hlghmore JH. more, Fall River County DA; 8-27-11-5
Red-tailed Hawk-8-25 (3), 9-3 (two (2) Sioux Falls HK; 10-6 (21) LaCreek;young), 9-24 (4), 10-30 (1) Wall Lake 11-27 (2) Rapid City RS.HK; last 11-3 Sheridan Lake, Black Prairie Falcon-9-2 (2) 10-28 (1) 11-Hills NRW; 11-15 Highmore; few La- 19 (1) LaCreek; 10-7 Ardmore DA; 9-Creek. 18 Harding DA; 11-14 Lyman LMB,
Harlan's Bawk-10-13 and 11-3 La- NRW; 10-28 (2) Reliance WCT.Creek CAF; 11-12 Pierre BJR; 10-20 Peregrine Falcon-l0-6 LaCreek CU.S. 12 Butte County NRW. 8-31 (one immature) good light 400
Broadwinged Bawk-9-17 Farm Is- feet HK, GBL, RN.land BJR; 9-18 (1) Sioux Falls HK; 9- Pigeon Hawk-9-2, 11-18 LaCreek; 9-22 Bemis, Deuel BKH. 29 Rapid City RS; 11-9 Belle Fourche
Swainson's Hawk-9-2 (6) Meade IW; 10-12 east of Yankton, unsuccess-DA; 9-19 (5) Cottonwood NRW; 9-11, fully attacked a killdeer; 10-20 Marin-10-1 Grass Lake HK; 9-16 (17) Potter dahl Lake (14 miles northeast of Yank-BJR; 9-23 Deuel; 9-22 (2) Highmore ton) WHoJH. Sparrow Hawk-9-3 (50) Meade DA;
Rough-legged Hawk-First, Penning- 9-6 (3)-10-20 Sioux Falls; 9-19 west ofton County 10-10; 10-20 (4) Butte Nemo, Black Hills (EAS).NRW; 10-21 Stanley BJR; 11-1 (4)Butte DA; 11-5 dark phase, Gavins .GROUSEPoint WHo 11-25 (5) Pennington' 11- Sharp-tailed Grouse-9-20-10-24 a to-25 (7) J;ckson EMS' 11-4 (14)' La- tal of 69 in six sightings around RapidCreek. ' City. BHAS. ..
Ferruginous Hawk-9-17 (3) Potter ~ng-n~cked Pheasant-(2) wIthInBJR; 9-25 (one adult), 9-29 (one im- RapId CIty BHAS; abundant at Cres-mature) Deuel BKH; 9-18 Harding DA; bard HWW. ...10-9 Sage Creek Basin, Badlands NRW; Gr~y Partrldge-9-9 (3) at gram pIle,10-20 (6) U.S. 212 Butte NRW; 11-1 PerkIns AH; 9-24 (11), 11-5 (26) twoButte DA. flocks of 13, Wall Lake HK. .
Golden Eagle-9-30, 11-10 (5) La- Turkey-9-16 (6). Nemo, Black ~IllsCreek; 9-23-11-18 BHAS; 11-1 (2) Butte EAS; 9-20 (11) SprIng Creek, Penmng-DA; 10-31 (2), 11-23 (1) Reliance WCT; ton CY.
10.23 (one immature) Deuel BKH. CRANES AND RAILSBald Eagle-l0-l0 Fall River BHAS; Sandhill Crane-9-30-10-29 about 5000
9-22-11-30 (8) sightings Deuel BKH; 11- over Rapid City and Black Hills with19 (one adult, one immature), 11-26 10-7 biggest flight day BHAS; 10-21(one adult) Gavins Point WH; 11-23 Highmore JH; 10-29 LaCreek; 10-28-10-(1) Reliance WCT; 11-3 (6) LaCreek; 30 mass migration with ducks and11-14 (2) Ft. Thompson, Buffalo Coun. geese down Missouri River BJR; 11-2
10 SOUTH DAKOTA BIRD NOTES
i---~
(105) Gavins Point WH; 10-28 many LaCreek CAF; 8-16 (8) Wall Lake NK.over Reliance; 10-27 flocks all day over Pectoral Sandpiper-8-16 (6) LakePerkins AH. Vermillion; 8-30 (150) Sioux Falls sew-
King Rail-8-25 good light, walked age HK; 9-26 (6) LaCreek.slowly within 30 feet of where we sat White-rumped Sandpiper-8-27 (3),in a car. Very rare indeed. HK, RN. 9-6 (2) Grass Lake; 9-12 (1) Big Sioux
Virginia Rail-9-10 Deuel BKH. River HK.Sora-8-20 9-20 9-25 (1) Sioux Falls Baird's Sandpiper-8-16 (6) Grass
HK. " Lake HK; 9-19 (1) close view with
American Coot-(7000) peak La- Killdeer and Greater Yellowlegs, Steph-Creek (45) peak Canyon Lake 10-17 to ens Dam BHAS.(4) 11-30 LMB; (150) 10-22 to (1) 11-5 Least Sandpiper-8-25 (2), 9-3 (7)Grass Lake HK. Grass Lake HK.
Dunlin-11-5 (2) good light, decurv-SHOREBIRDS ed bill, Grass Lake HK.
Semipalmated Plover-8-30 (1) city Long-billed Dowitcher-8-21 (2), 10-sewage pool, Sioux Falls HK. 1 (50), 10-11 (55), 10-30 (1) Grass
Killdeer-Peak 8-29, 10-31 (2) Rapid Lake; (507) peak 9-10-10-20 (135) La-City BHAS; (103) peak 9-2-11-8 (8) La- Creek CAF.Creek; 823 (7) Perkins AH; 9-9 High- Semipalmated Sandpiper-9-6 (2)more; 11-12 (5) Cresbard HWW; 8-20 Grass Lake; 9-16 (12) Lake Vermillion(51», 10-11 (57) common Sioux Falls HK.HK.. Western Sandpiper-8-25 (1) good
American Golden Plover-9-24 (10) light, 50 feet, 9-3 (5) Grass Lake HK,near Sioux Falls HK. RN; 9-12 (1) Big Sioux River.
Black.bellied Plover-9-10 LaCreek Buff.breasted Sandpiper-8-30 (21)CAF. Sioux Falls sewage pool HK.
Common Snipe-8-20 winnowing male Marbled Godwit-9-6 (11) Grass Lakenear Crystal Springs, Deuel (late for HK; 10-3 Deuel BKH.display) BKH; 8-20 (10), 10-30 (3) American Avocet-9-6 (11) Grassmore than usual, Sioux Falls HK; 9-30 Lake HK; 9-2 (28), 10-6 (20)-10-20 La-(6) LaCreek; 10-31 Sioux Park, Rapid Creek CAF.City BHAS; 11-14, 11-15 (1) Yankton Wilson's Phalarope-8-21 (50) nearWHo Humboldt and 8-27 (2) HK.
Upland Plover-8-18 (3), 8-20 (1) Northern Phalarope-8-25 (8), (21)near Sioux Falls, b£coming scarce, habi- peak 9-39-20 (1) near Humboldt-verytat destroyed HK. unusual. HK.
.Spotted Sandpiper-l~-24 (1) Fall GULLS DOVES AND CUCKOOS"RIver downtown Hot SprIngs EMS. ,~
Solitary Sandpiper-8-30 (1) Big Herring Gull-Few seen frequently,Sioux River HK. Gavins Point WH; 11-14 (10 to 20) Big
Willet-818 (5) near Beaver Lake, Bend Dam NRW.Minnehaha HK. Ring.billed Gull-Many flocks pro-
Greater Yellowlegs-8-16 (2) Lake ceeding west in the evening duringVermillion, McCook HK; 9-19-10-25 November, Gavins Point; 11-14 (400)
'- (two to five) Stephens Dam BHAS; 10- Big Bend Dam NRW; (43) peak 10-2913 (4) Big Sioux River HK; 10-23 (3) LaCreek CAF.Deuel BKH; 10-4, 10-28 below Pierre Franklin's Gull-l0-12 (200) 12 milesBJR. -, east, Yankton WH; 10-24 Pierre BJR;
Lesser Yellow-legs-(288) peak 9-16 10-29 Deuel; 9-30 (4) LaCreek.
MARCH, 197~ 1.1
Bonaparte's Gull-l0-29 (1) Lake Short-eared Owl-l0-l, 10-14 singlesSharpe, 11-7 (3) Oahe, 11-22 (1) Ante- LeCreek CAF.lope Island BJR; 11-16 (one immature),11-22 (seven adults) WHo GOATSUCKERS, SWIFTS,
Forster's Tern-Several immature HUMMINGBIRDS AND KINGFISHERand adult seen frequently in August Poor-will-8-15-8-27 calling RapidWH; 8-21 (2) near Humboldt HK. City DA; 10-10 one with broken wing
Black Tern-8-18 (50) Wall and in Bonnie Green's back yard-laterGrass Lakes HK; 8-20 (two immatures, died.one adult) WH; 9-2 (135), 9-10 (70) Common Nighthawk-(20) peak 8-19LaCreek; 9-11 (4) Curlew Lake, Meade BHAS; 8-22 (17) Perkins AH; 9-4 spec-EMS. tacular flight, counted 600 and gave up,
Mourning Dove-l0-24 (2) Campbell Sioux Falls HK; 9-25 (2) Roberts BKH.BJR; 10-2 (15) Perkins AH; many at Chimney Swift-8-27 (25) Humboldtend of September BHAS. HK.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo-8-18-9-21 Ra- Hummingbirds-8-16-9-15 almost dai-pid City EAS, BG. ly BHAS, E. Southmayd and D. Adolph-
Black-billed Cuckoo-9-6 (1) Grass son believe they had different species,Lake HK. but hesitate to call them in the fall;
June Harter writes-"One friend res-OWLS cued a hummingbird from a spider web
Bam Owl-l0-l0 decomposed young -it had so much of the web on itsunder Hat Creek bridge, Fall River body that it couldn't fly."County BHAS. Ruby-throated-9-10, 9-11 Brookings
Screech Owl-8-29 (1) in my back NH.yard HK. Belted Kingfisher-Many more re-
Great Homed Owl-8-28 midnight ports than usual BHAS.
Red Dale Canyon LMB; 10-3, 10-31 Pen- WOODPECKERSnington RS; 11-4 (3) LaCreek; 11-2 (1) Yellow-shafted Flicker-10-9 la'tBelle Fourche. .."He was perched in Highmore JH S ,
the tree near. the front window on a Hybrid F1i~ker-DailY BHAS; com-stormy day lIke a H~llowee.n spook. mon Perkins and Belle Fourche.The face was a face, In reallty-mon-. .key or human. Wind proved that the Red-belli~d Woo~pecker-:-11-3 (1) mears, which stuck up squarely like a com~any with ~obms feedmg on hack-cat's, were really tufts of feathers. Like berrIes at the rIver bluff west of Yank-a human being, the owl stretched, ton WHoyawned and napped, closing his eyes. Red-headed Woo~pecker-9-5 (12like a cat. However, when the birds I~mature and adults m farm yard( Pen-were teasing him, he watched them nmgton EMS; 9-19 (1) Cott~nwo?dfrom under half-closed pale eyelids." NRW; more than us.ual at RapId City"The Daily Post" IW; 8-25 (one young) ~HAS; 11-21 (one Immature) ~rook.Wall Lake HK. mgs-have been found on ChrIstmas
.counts NH.Snowy O.wl-l0-24 female c.rIppled Lewis' Woodpecker-10-17 Elk Creek
and later ~Ied Deuel BKH; smgles 11. Valley, Meade EMS; 11-1 Belle Fourche28, 11-30 PIerre BJR. DA.
Burrowing Owl-9-2 LaCreek. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker-9-19 Rob-Long-eared Owl-II-4, 11-7 specimens erts BKH; 9-24 Sioux Falls HK.
brought Deuel BKH; 11-17 Perkins AH. Hairy Woodpecker-First, 9-12 High-
12 SOUTH DAKOTA BIRD NOT&S
more; common Perkins AH; daily Ra. October and November BHAS; somepid City BHAS; common Belle Fourche present Belle Fourche IW; few in Sep-IW. tember Perkins AH; 9-27 (8), last 11-2
Downy Woodpecker-Daily Rapid Highmore JH; 9-10 (16) in flock-notCity BHAS. often in a flock so large, Sioux FallsI
FLYCATCHERS, LARKS AND H~lack.billed Magpie-Many throughSWALLOWS period BHAS; 10-24 (2) by KennethI
Eastern Kingbird-Peak 8-29, few 9. Husman, Day County BKH.6 BHAS; 9-3 Highmore; 9-12 Sioux Common Crow-10-10 (5) Fall RiverFalls. BHAS; last 10-9 Highmore, " ...not
Western Kingbird-8-22 (12), few 9-2 present in usual migration number. ForBHAS; 8-25 Highmore; 9-3 Sioux Falls. past five years few hundred to 2000
Great Crested Flycatcher-9-22 (1) roosted in our trees during most ofHuron JWJ. October, but large flocks didn't show
Say's Phoebe-9-5-9-22 BHAS. this year." JH; 10-10-10-20 migrated byYellow-bellied Flycatcher-8-11 (1) thousands through Reliance WCT.
on fence, 20 feet away, good light HK, Pinon JaY-8-18 (75) steady flocksRN. of 40 to feeders at edge of Black Hills.
Traill's Flycatcher-8-13 Highmore.Least Flycatcher-9-23 Brookings EE. CHICKADEES, NUTHATCHES,Eastern Wood Pewee-8-27 (1), 9-23, CREEPER, DIPPER AND WRENS
9-26 Sioux Falls HK. Black-capped Chickadees--Not fre-Northern Horned Lark-11-5 (1) ex- quently seen, Sioux Falls HK; first 9-
cellent light, yellowish eyestripe, clear- 19, not too numerous BHAS; 11-13ly seen HK. Highmore; 11-16 numerous, Belle
Horned Lark-Many migrating flocks Fourche IW.of about 15 10-18-10-24 I 90, Penning- White-breasted Nuthatch-9-24 (3)ton and Jackson EAS, EMS; 11-25 none Sioux Falls; 10-27 Highmore.on I 90; 11-15 three large flocks, total Red-breasted Nuthatch-9-26 (3) con-500 in 10 miles, Highmore JH. ifers Sioux Falls, 10-4 (2) HK; 11-10
Violet-green, Rough-winged, and Barn (1) Deuel, none in 1970 BKH.Swallows-All seem to leave Rapid Brown Creeper-More reports thanCity 9-5-few stragglers after that in- usual BHAS; 10-8 (1)-11-10 (3) Siouxcluded (1). Falls HK.
Bank S wallo w-9-19 Cottonwood House Wren-9-28 Rapid City EAS;NRW; 8-18 (1800) Bank near Hum- 9-8 Highmore JH.boldt HK. Winter Wren-9-1-9-12 (2) EAS.
Tree Swallow-9-11 , 9-12 few Wall Canon Wren-10-7 (1) Wind Cave,and Grass Lakes-scarce this year HK. Custer DA..\
Cliff Swallow-8-16 (1) good light, Long-billed Marsh Wren-8-16 (3),r Humboldt HK. 9-3 (8), 9-6 (17), 10-16 (1) MinnehahaI
Purple Martin-8-31 (60) Wall Lake potholes HK; 10-23 Deuel BKH; 10-25I --common at Wall Lake but seemingly .(1) reeds, Se.avey's L~ke.. NRW hea~dscarce elsewhere HK. It and found It. Last SIghtIng for WhIt-
ney 4-5-1967. This is sixth sighting-allJAY, CROW AND MAGPIE previous at Canyon Lake since 1953.
Gray Jay-9-26 (2), 10.10 (6), 10-23 Short-billed Marsh Wren-(1) fre-(1) Black Hills BHAS. quently until 8-28 Yankton WH; 8-21
Blue Jay-Many in September, fe\v (one adult, one young) Wall Lake HK.
MARCH, 1972 13
1
Rock Wren-8-25-9-29 EAS. hitting window, Vi Brodsky; none Hur-Catbird-Many to 9-30 BHAS; 9-28 on JWJ.
Deuel; (6) peak 9-10-9-13 Highmorc; Cedar Waxwing-9-3, 9-20 (15), 9.2610.10 (1) Sioux Falls. (33), 10-9 Highmore JH; almost daily
Brown Thrasher-Average number to 8-18-9-18 BG; 9-24 (13), 10-13 (three9-23 BHAS; 8-31 (12) Belle Fourche juveniles) Sioux Falls HK; 11-21 (20)IW; 9-24 Sioux Falls; 9-27 Highmore; Yankton WH; 9-14 (30) Belle Fourche11-8 Cresbard HWW. ..."Must be on the increase. About
Robin-Many, 9-9 (50) Perkins AH; 10 years ago a cedar waxwing was a9-20 (100) migrating flock BG; 8-22 (23 rarity. It is our deduction that theseadults, 48 young) Sioux Falls HK; many on the hill are adults and young raisedfeeding on hackberries until 11-27 WHo in the vicinity and now flocked for
Hermit Thrnsh-10-5, 10.27 Brook- their winter nomadic life. The flock in-ings EE; 10-13 Altamont, Deuel BKH. creases every year so that now it num-
Swainson's Thrush--8-31-9-28 ( 2 ) bers around 30." IW.EAS; 9-12-9-23 EE; (6) peak 9-23-9-27 SHRIKE STARLINGS AND VIREOSHighmore; almost daily 9-6-9-28 Huron '.JWJ; 9-22-10-4 Sioux Falls HK. Northern Shnke-10-10 (one imma-
.ture) Hat Creek, Fall River BHAS; 10-Gray-cheeked Thrnsh-9-3 (1) HIgh- 15 after bird Rapid City BG' 11-16 (1)
more; 9-14 (1) rare, Huron JWJ. Yankton WH; 11-9 Belle Fo~rche ...Eastern Bluebird-10-17 last Deuel; "Livestock feeders in Belle Fourche
10-24 Campbell (9) BJR; 10-25 (17 valley say that the shrike is fairly com-males) Farm Island BJR; 8-18 at Rapid mon around feedlots where they preyCity bird bath; 9-19 (3) west of Nemo, upon mice." IW; 10-21 Stanley BJR;Black Hills EAS. 10-24 Campbell BJR; 11-23 Deuel, (2)
Mountain Bluebird-10-4 (5) U.S. 212, Roberts BKH.Butte AH; more than usual in Black Loggerhead Shrike-9-19 CottonwoodHills, 10.21 (20) Deerfield, Pennington, NRW; 8-21 (1) Grass Lake HK; 11-14Leonard Yarger. (2) Big Bend Dam LMB; 10-30 (2) Per-
Townsend's Solitaire-10-10 (1) Cas- kins AH.cade Park, Fall River; many more than Starling-Viewfield corner, Meade;usual around Rapid City BHAS. roost Gamble Store sign downtown Ra-
Golden-crowned KingIet-10-15-10-22 pid City EMS: ..Humboldt and Sioux Falls HK. 10-23 Red-eyed VIreo-8-17-8-28 RapId CIty(2) Yankton WH; 10-23-11-1 Highmore; EAS; 9-24 (1) n.ever numerous, Huron10-10 several Black Hills EAS' 11-7 JWJ; 8-29-9-8 HIghmore; 9-19 Roberts,specimen in Vi Brodsky's yard, 'Rapid 9-20 ~2) Deuel BKH; 9-11 specimen,City; few this period, Huron JWJ; 10- Brookmgs NH.29 (1) Lake Sharpe BJR. Warbling Vireo-8-17-9-12 Rapid City
Ruby.crowned Kinglet-9-23-10-13 (9) EAS; frequent Huron; 9-12 singingSioux Falls HK; 9-29 BG; 9-8-10-23 ~ale, Altamont, Deuel BKH; 8-29-9-26Highmore JH; 9-23-11-4 Brookings EE. SIOUX Falls HK.
Water Pipit-9-11 (2) Curlew Lake, WARBLERSMeade EMS; 9-14-10-24 many near dug. Black-and-White Warbler-8-18 (1)outs and dams, Potter and Campbell Rapid City EAS; 8-22-9.3 Highmore.BJR. Tennessee-9-21 (2) Rapid City BG;
Sprague's Pipit-9-15 (1) Potter BJR. 8-21.9-12 Highmore.Bohemian Waxwing-9-12 dazed from Orange-crowned-9-16-10-3 few Sioux
14 ~OUTH DAKQTA B~D N9TES
Falls; 9-20-9-28 less than usual Rapid 15 Rapid City. Gertrude BachmanCity BG; 9-18-10-6 Highmore; abundant, crossed state 11-1 and saw none. NRWHuron. did Cottonwood count 9-19 and 10-19
Nashville-9-6-9-26 few Minnehaha when in 30 stops there were exactlyHK; 9-22 Deuel; 9-23 Roberts; 9-22 (2) 100 on both dates. AH went to BelleBrookings EE; 8-29-9-18 Highmore; 9-24 Fourche 10-4 and found one to a mile(1) unusual Huron. average. 11-1 (12) Highmore; 11-24 Deu-
Yellow-8-18 (one singing)-9-20 EAS, el; 11-25 (4) Reliance.BG; last 9-26 Highmore; usual number, Red-winged Blackbird-Strong flock-Huron. ing mid-September, Rapid City; migra-
Myrtle-9-21-10-16 few Sioux Falls; tion flocks 8-31-9-20 JH.8-25-very few after big spring migra- Yellow-headed Blackbird-Increasingtion, Rapid City; 10-21 Deuel; 10-7-10- Sioux Falls HK.20 Brookings NH, EE; 9-20-10-18 High- Orchard Oriole-8-28-8-31 (2) Siouxmore; 9-17-10-8 Farm Island and Pierre. Falls HK; 9-4 Highmore.
Audubon's-8-18-10-16 BHAS. Baltimore Oriole-8-20-9-29 RapidChestnut-sided-9-21 (2) previous City EAS; 9-4 Highmore JH.
sightings, 8-31-63, 9-26-66 Highmore JH. Bullock's Oriole-8-23-9-5 Rapid CityBay-breasted-8-27 (1) good light, EAS, GB; 9-2 (one female), good close
"pinkish" sides, 9-26 (1) Sioux Falls view, whitish underneath and unstreak-HK. ed back Highmore JH.
Pine-9-17 (1), 9-26 (3), 10-4 (one Rusty Blackbird-l0-16 (5), 10-20still singing) Sioux Falls HK. (80), 11-4 (125) Grass Lake HK; 10-8-
Ovenbird-9-5 Brookings EE; 9-14-9- 10-25 many Farm Island BJR; 11-1020 Huron; 9-23 (2) Sioux Falls. (75) Roberts.
Nor the r n Waterthrush-8-25 (1) Brewer's Blackbird-9-20 few BHAS;Grass Lake; 9-17 (1) Sioux Falls HK; 10-24 many Campbell BJR.9-10 Brookings EE; 9-14-9-20 Huron. Common Grackle-8-18 (6) molting
Yellowthroat-9-21-9-23 BG; 9 -12 -10-30 BHAS; 9-11-9-19 hundredsHighmore; very numerous Sioux Falls. Highmore JH.
Yellow-breasted Chat-9-3-9-8 High- Brown-headed Cowbird-9-11 (23),more. 9-30 (200),10-22 (35),11-5 (2) Minne-
Wilson's.-9-3 (2) Sioux Falls; 9-20 haha HK; 10-1 (50) feeding among cat-Deuel; 8-24-8-31 Brookings EE; almost tIe, Deuel BKH.daily through 9-28 BG; 8-26-9-26 High- Western Tanager-9-21 (1) High-more; 9-3 (3) rare for several years, more; 8.19-10-9 almost daily Rapid CityHuron. EAS, BG.
Canada-9-3 (1) Wall Lake HK; 10-21(1) observed 1h hour, 30 feet-one SPARROWS AND FINCHESprevious sighting 9.5-67 Highmore. Cardinal-Scarcer than last year,
American Redstart-B-21-9-2 BHAS; Sioux Falls HK; 9-20 Long Tree Lake8-13-9-3 (10) Highmore; 10-21 Huron. BKH. "
I1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak-8-24 (1) I]I HOUSE SPARROW, BLACKBIRDS Sioux Falls HK. :'
"AND TANAGERS Black-headed Grosbeak-8-24-10-5 Ra- !iiHouse Sparrow-Roost tree, Sixth pid City EAS, BG; 9-2-9-10 Highmore
Street, Rapid City; 2000 Highmore. JH.Bobolink-8-16 (18), 8-27 (61), 9-11 Blue Grosbeak-8-21 (one male and
(13) Sioux Falls HK; 9-11 Deuel BKH. two females), 8-25 (one female andWestern Meadowlark-Few after 10- one juvenile) at 30 feet; 9-11 (one
MARCH, 1972 15
I
= ~-~--- ---
adult and one young) Wall Lake HK. frequently seen in small numbers,Indigo Bunting-9-23 (1) with spar- Sioux Falls HK.
rows Rapid City BG. LeConte's Sparrow-10-6 (2) LakeDickcissel-8-31 (9), 9-11 (five adults Alice, close with binoculars, strong
and five young), 10-11 (3) fairly com- striping on back, streaks on flanks, buf-mon Minnehaha HK. fy breast and white line through eye,
Evening Grosbeak-9-17-11-2 few but nape color not clearly seen, DeuelBHAS; 11-11 (4) not usually seen, Hur- BKH.on JWJ. Henslow's Sparrow-9-16 (1) on
Purple Finch-10-27 (1) Hisega, Pen- fence, 30 feet in good light HK, RN;nington BHAS; 11-21-11-23 Deuel; 10- 10-22 (2) 20 feet near Humboldt HK,12-11-10 more than usual, Huron JWJ; GB.10-20 (1) Sioux Falls HK. Vesper Sparrow-8-29-10-3 good num-
Pine Grosbeak-11-16 (1) very rare ber BHAS; 9-20 (10),9-25 (43); 10-11and early, Huron JWJ. (27), 10-30 (3) Minnehaha HK.
Cassin's Finch-11-9 (2) Mary Hyde, Lark Sparrow-8-26-9-19 Rapid CityRapid City. BHAS; 9-30 (4) Wall Lake HK.
Common Redpoll-11-10 (10) with White-winged Junco-9-11-11-10 (35)about as many Pine Siskins, Deuel Rapid City BHAS.BKH; 11-6 Huron JWJ. S I ate. c 0 lor e d Junco-10-9-11-30
Pine Siskin-9-19-11-11 few BHAS; BHAS; two to five daily, Huron; 10-109-11-10-11 Highmore; 10-8 flock, Huron Reliance WCT; 10-28 many BelleBJR; 10-31 (1) Sioux Falls HK. Fourche IW; 9-27-10-20 several Sioux
American Goldfinch-8-16-11-30 few Falls.BHAS; 9-26 Highmore; 8-24 nest with Oregon Junco-10-9-10-16 (4) BHAS;two eggs, Yankton WHo 9-16-11-3 up to (4) Highmore.
Red Crossbill-9-1-10-4 fair number, Tree Sparrow-10-9-10-31 manyBlack Hills BHAS. BHAS; 10-8.11-3 less than usual High-
White.winged Crossbill-10-11 (1) more; 10-25 many Farm Island; 10-9.only previous sighting 8-17-69 Highmore 11-1 few Huron; 10-16 (12)-10-22 (101)JH. counted, Sioux Falls, HK.
..~ Chipping Sparrow-9-20-10-16 BHAS;Rufous-sided Towhee-9-10-9-27 Hlgh- 9 26 H . h . 9 2 10 28 P k . Igmore, ---erms.
more, almost dally through 10-9 BHAS.Cl ol d S 8 25 (.ay-c ore parrow- .0 n e
10-4 Brookmgs EE. d It d ..1 ) HK RN 9 6.a u an one Juvem e , ,-
Lark Buntmg-8-21 (three males and (two adults and one young), 9-20 (1)one female), 8-25 (three adults and Minnehaha; 8.23-10-10 BHAS; 9-21four yo~ng) ~ear Humboldt-s:ems. to Highmore; few, Huron.be an mcu~slon HK; heavy .mlgratlon Field Sparrow-9-21-9-26 Highmore;last week m August-most m brown, common, Huron.autumn plumage, few through 9-19 Harris'S par r 0 w-9-26-11-30 fewBHAS. BHAS; 9-22-11-12 up to (40) Highmore;
Savannah Sparrow-9-5-9-19 Rapid 10-25 many Farm Island; 9-28-11-1 Hur.City BHAS; 9-20 (29), 9-25 (53), 10-11 on; 10-4-11-3 Brookings EE; 11-25 (one(66), 10.30 (1) Wall Lake HK. immature) banded NH; 10-24-10-28 good
Grasshopper Sparrow-Almost none number, Perkins; 10-20 Reliance; 10-28at Rapid City this year; 10-21 (1) cling- (20) Belle Fourche-"We believe thating at night to back screen door, at- all Harris' Sparrows have streakedtracted by light, banded and photo- breasts in the winter since in all thegraphed BJR (Pierre); 8.31-9-11 (4) years we have had Harris' on our hill,
16 SOUTH DAKOTA BIRD NO~
I
we have never seen the full black mark.ing except in early spring." IW; RapidCity-never in almost 10 years of rec-ord keeping has an adult been reportedin fall." EMS; 10-10-11-1 (50) feed regu-
.larly at Henry Kaiser home, Yankton,and roost in spruce and juniper. About20 until 11-14. The evening singing of ok
these birds was much appreciated WHo "'0I White-crowned Spa r r 0 w-9-19-9-29, few BHAS; 9.20-10-11 up to (6) High- -~
more. 10-21 (7) Perkins AH; 10-15 Re-lianc~; 9-20 (2) roadside brush, Wall McCown's LongspurLake HK. -E. W. Steffen
White-throated Sparrow-9-9-9-29 fewBHAS; 9-20-10-11 Highmore; 9-23-10-29Brookings EE; 9-24-10-17 few, 10-20(one singing) Sioux Falls HK; 11-24(one immature) banded NH; 10-10 Re-liance WCT.
Fourche. .."Song sparrows have ar.Fox Sparrow-10-11 (2) Wall Lake; .d f th I. nter i t is seen in
.rive or e w ...10.16 (2) SIOUX Falls HK. Spearfish Canyon in the summer, butLincoln's Sparrow-9-20-9-29 few it winters in the lower elevations where
BHAS; 9-8-9-27 Highmore; 9-6-10-22 few, there are cattails near streams andmarshy potholes, Minnehaha HK. ponds." "The Daily Post" IW.
Swamp Sparrow-8-21 (1) singing, 8- Lapland Longspur-11-5 specimen27 (1), 9-6 (1) Grass Lake HK. Badlands, Nicki Higgins; 10-24 thou-
Song Sparrow-10-13 (7) Sioux Falls sands from North Dakota border toHK; 9-18-11-20 few BHAS; 9-27 High- Pierre BJR; 10-28 thousands, Reliancemore; 10-10 Reliance; 10-12 Belle WCT.
Smith's Longspur-9-15 (60), 9-16(35) Potter BJR.
Snow Bunting-11-6-11-30 up to (25)Deuel BKH; 10-24 (1) Campbell. BJR.
President's Page(Continued from Page Three) I
rI
/ summer meetings are anticipated. Some
-;d feel that certain schedule conf1i~ts can",-~.;;:";, -'--'- --be avoided at this season. Is thIS new.~~-' -.~ -, trend a good one? Are there features
of the spring or summer meeting thatChestnut-collared Longspur should be improved? I hope our mem-
-E. W. Steffen bers are thinking about these problems.-B. E. Harrell
MARCH, 1972 17
~tll Nt>tes t>f specitllln~
INVITATION FROM NORTH DAKOT.-\ has been advanced by some in the--The North Dakota Natural Science NDNSS that there may be possibilitiesSociety was formed in 1966 for tile of the two organizations joining forcespurpose of promoting inierf-st in and in some respects. This could take vari-understanding of natural sciences, to ous forms, and hopefully would resultencourage COI1E.c:rvation of natural re- in strengthening the memberships andsources, and to provide communication programs of both groups. III regard toamong persons and grOUPE. with like objectives I realize that tp.e purposeinterests. In practice the emphasis has of SDOU is restricted primarily to en..been on bi:'ds. While t':1ere was and couraging the study of birds and orni-still is wid£spread interest for an or. thology in South Dakota. However, I~anization of our type in North Dakota, lmow from the meeting I spoke at onour membership is not yet large enough the occasion of the 20th anniversaryto continue to sustain the costs associ- of SDOU that there is some sentimentated with operating the Society. At for expanding the objectives to includepresent, the mQin expense is publica- other areas of natural sciences.lion of th~ quarterly periodical, "The ..Prairie Naturalist." However, there are .TI.e sprmg meetmg of the NDNSSother activiti~s that we feel we could v:lll be held on May 20.21 at. Medof1,and should engage in if we had the North Dakota. As the tentatIve sche-financial !'upport. For several l'/:'asons dul: stands n?w, we plan to have a0:11' membership has stabilized at about busmess meetmg startmg at 10 a.m.200. Also, v;e have diffi~ulty obtaining Oil Saturday, May 20. In the afternounsufficient ar"ic!es of the type and cali- there would be papers on t~e flora ofber that are desired in "The Prairie Ule badlands area, the petrIfIed fur~stNaturalist." As a result, we have drojJ- ~n the Theod~re ~008t'vel~ Nat~onalp"d behind in publication on a quarter- Park, and a dlSC.usslon by ~ NatIonally basis and this, in turn, has caused Park repr:sentatlve Ot1 ~n~lro~mentalloss of memberfihip. IJroblems m the area. f 0 lowmg the
dinner j,anquet would be a talk onUndoubte.'Jly, some of our ills f~ould birds by the historian and museum
be corrected by a more vigorous mem- curatol', Italph Hubbard. On Sundaybership driv~, and we are engaging in there will be. a joint field trip withthis now. The enclosed photocopy of the Theodore Roosevelt National His-our last new~letter describes our nee!! tory Society and other p,']d trips onand progr.:m. However, with the num- J.'lants and to the petrified forest (theber of natural science, cmservation, latter for persons wii:h a four-wheeland environmental organizations to drive vehjcie). In ad,litiort, w~ will holdwhich a person can belong these days, a quarterly meeting of llie Executivethe competition is quite keen. I under- Hoard, probably precedmg the businessstand that the South Dakota Ornitholo- meeting. While Medora is son:e dis-gists' Union is experiencing similar fi- tance {ram eastern Sou~h Dakota,nancial difficulties, and the thought SDOfT m..mbers in Rapld City and oth-
18 ~OUTH DAKOTA BffiD NOT~
~'-
er parts (,f western Sovth Dakota will pine cone filled with peanut butter andfind that It is closer t~l,'n the major then rolled in bird seed. Try it. TheycIties in eastern Sou'ill Dakota. We like it.-Mary Rantapaa, Brownsvillecorciially 'nvite you and .J) SDOU mem- Store, Deadwood, S. Dak.
1 uers to the Society m~eljngs. Also, ifthe SDOU Board of Directors feels that, a discussion of our mutual programs * * * *
and of possible means for strengthen-ing these might be pursued profitably, THE RESCUE OF A HUMMINGBIRDwe hope that as many as possible will -Last August as I was walking downbe abl~ to attend at l~ast the S?ciety's the garden path just before sunrise IExecutr.re Board meeting precedmg the t. d t .
th t mato. t . F . 1., th O k no Ice a movemen m e 0busmess mee Ing. ma lY, Ii you m ..
it appropriate and if thcr~ IS still time, patch. Upon lookmg, I found a tmyyou may v:~nt to call attention to the hummingbird entangled in a huge spi-NDNSS ffigeting in "Soat!? Dakota Bird derweb. It was almost exhausted thoughNotes" and to welcome all HDOU mem- still fluttering and so entangled itbers to it.-Paul F. SLJrnlger, Jam~s.
Id h dltown, N. Dak. 58401 cou ar y move.
I gently grasped the tiny bird with* * * * my thumb and two finger.. and lifted
it out of tlIE' web. Placing it in the(..:OULD IT BE A BOBOLINK?-I first palm of my hand I tried to remove theheard his song in the late spring of web and gently stroked its back, wings1969 and on searching found him perch- and entire body. When I placed it oned high on a power .line. He was all the ground it fell over on its side so Iblack on the front wIth large patches again picked jt up and stroked it. Thisof white on the back of his head, neck I did several times as it fell over eachand body. The only bird that fit his time I put it down. It would peep anddescription in Peterson's "Field Guide flutter but ct)uldn't seem to take off.to Western Birds" was th~ Boboli?k. Finally, after J had put it in amongHowever Peterson doesn t mention the petunia~ I felt, rather than saw itBobolinks as being found in South Da- flyaway and on looking I found it waskota. gone.
All during the summer I watched It was about one and one-half incheshim and enjoyed his estatic bubbling in length W!tll a back (of irridescent
song. He seemed to be a loner. Though .he was seen by many others none g.'een and wmgs of a dark grey. Thecould identify him. breast was speckled light and dark
I h . f 1970 I . d ~rey and dir~ctly under the bill weren t e sprmg 0 recognIZe -..',~his happy song one early morning and three or lour ruby red feathers. TL-again he stayed the full summer. I bill was about three-fourths inch inthought he might have a mate but I length, ver'J sbarp and pointed andnever saw a second bird. He did not black in colo~:.return in 1971.
Such a dny bit of bird life and IWinter birds find our evergreen . ht tt t.. d ' f th actually held It m the pa)m of my and.
trees mos a rac Ive JU gmg rom e .number we feed each winter. Their fa- -Gw(n Reher, Box 100, Hlghmore, S.vorite food seems to be a large, opened fJak. 57345
MARCH, 1972 19
A BLACK-THROATED SPARROW IN promised some data on the speed of
VERMILLION-A Black-throated Spar- the movement through the area. A rec-row (Amphispiza bilineata) was an ai- ord of the leg banded for each bird
most-daily visitor to our backyard dur- ing the last two weeks of December, gave a further dIfference for IdentIfI-
1971, This beautiful bird was easily cation.
identified by the white stripes on theface, the jet-black throat, and the white Return of Banded Birds to Trapon the edge of the outermost tail feath-ers, It was attracted to -cracked corn Date Date Minimum
spread on the ground and to corn in a Banded Last Return Stay (Days)feeder which was located less than 20 10- 9 10-19 10feet from our house. The bird usually 10-11 10-19 8
came between 8:30 and 10:00 a,m" al-
though several times we did see it later 10-14 10-19 5
in the day. It became comparatively 10-15 10-19 4tame and was usually unconcerned with 10-22 11- 1 10noise and movement inside the win- 10-27 11- 1 5dows, and we were able to take severalpictures of it. It was smaller than the , ..,House SpalT()W,~ and they often chased In addItIon to the above, two Harns
it away from the corn, but on one occa- were banded on left legs and were
sion it was observed driving a Nut- seen daily until 11-12. The last bandshatch from the feeder. According to placed on their left legs were appliedPeterson's "Field Guide to WesternBirds" the Black-throated Sparrow's 10-31 12normal winter range is the desert andsouthwest. In spite of this it seemed tobe bearing the bitter cold temperatures 11- 2 10
as well as the birds native to Vermil- ..,1 , . t Ma k Wetmo e 627 Tho The first Harns sparrow had appear-
Ion wm .ers.-- r r , -
mas Street, Vermillion, S. Dak. 57069 ed 9-28, the second 10-2, and the third
10-4, None of these were seen other
days. Two appeared 10-7 and from then* * * * until 10-28, the number present daily
varied from four through a maximum
HARRIS SPARROW M 0 V EM E NT, of 12 on 10-30, to one on 11-14, the
FALL, 1971-Fall of 1971 found more last seen,
Harris sparrows passing thru our yard Th h.l th 1., us, W I e ere was a more or ess
than for several years. Durmg the pen- t.I t th h th dcon mua movemen roug e yar ,
od a sparrow trap was operated to , d.. d 1 b .1., some m IVI ua s emg seen on y one
catch house sparrows. Twenty HarrIs d th t ' t 'ht f 20, .ay, 0 ers, amoun mg 0 elg 0
sparrows were also caught m It, band-
b d d t d I Of th f1 d an e , s aye onger. ese, oured, and re ease, 1, d f .. f fmgere or a mInImUm 0 our to
Observing the bands on the follow- eight days, three for 10 days, and at
ing days and recording the occasional least one for 12 days or more.-J. W.
returns of banded birds to the trap Johnson, Huron
20 SOUTH D~OTA BIRD NOTE~
~1
Curve-Billed Thrasher-J. W. Johnson
GREAT BLUE HERON SURVEY-At CURVE BILLED THRASHER STILLthe top of the aquatic foodchain, the LINGERS NEAR GANN VALLEYGreat Blue Heron may well be an im- (23:80)-The Curve-billed Thrasherportant indicator species. The Labora- that appeared at the Irving Knighttory of Ornithology is planning a na- ranch northwest of Gann Valley intion-wide survey of this species. February, 1971, was still in the same
The first step will be to compile an area and still at the ranch Dec. 1, 1971.inventory of heronries. To this end, In September Mrs. Knight hadwe appeal to all persons with knowl- thought it might have left with theedge on this point to write to us. In- Brown Thrashers with which it hadformation may be recent or old; de- associated, since it disappeared abouttailed or sketchy. Even "I remember the same time they did. It had beenseeing a heronry as a boy" is helpful seen last on Sept. 14. But, on Dec. 1,if the site is remembered well enough she advises, the bird was back, asto locate on a topographic map. though it had never really left.-J. W.
We hope that this inventory will con- Johnson, Hurontain the exact locality of the heronry,a general description of the site, andas much history as possible. We hope .
that this stage of the program can be SDOU Members. ..completed by the winter so that ar-
i rangements can be made for census M,obridge Welcomes You~ work in the 1972 breeding season.- h S .. I David B. Peakall, Ph.D., Senior Re- to t e, prIng Meeting
search Associate, North American Nest. Friday Saturday SundayRecord Card Program, Cornell Labora. , , ,
tory of Ornithology, 159 Sapsucker June 2-3-4, 1972
Woods Road, Ithaca, New York 14850
MARCH, 1972 ~1
-C"C~"CC"CCc C"', C'"
Notes from Sparks' Mini-Ranch
THIS may be -the year of the rat in "National Geographic." It is a part ofChina but in the Hills it is the an article on the Alaskan Tundra, by
year of unpredictable weather. It has Paul Z. Zahl. The entire article is wellrained on and off every month, usually worth reading as it is on birds, animalswith snow following. We have had and the plans and need of saving theshirt sleeve weather at 8 a.m. and parka Alaskan Tundra for wildlife of the fu-weather at noon. Most of the snow is ture.gone now but by tomorrow we may have six inches. In the MIrror of OpInIOn sectIon of
the "Christian Science Monitor" an arti-We have hiked the snowmobile road cle originating in the "Louisville Couri-
into the hills every week all winter, " ..always finding something new. Last er-Journal has been prInted. It IS en-week we noted two tall pines surround- titled, "To Save an Eagle-Save Hised by the tips of branches suggesting Forest." Included in the endangeredthat two porcupines had perched in species are now one-tenth of all kindstheir tops and thrown the pine tips at of plants in the world. Two thousandeach other. Under other trees were species of plants are now on the en-deep piles of pine cones torn apart, per- dangered list and 817 animal species.haps by the squirrels. With four dogs in It is time to be concerned.tow we skirt the drifts in the higherareas climb over rocks and sometimes After all the publicity on the eaglesstop to watch the poodle bury himself killed in Wyoming they are still beingin the snow before he stretches out to shot there. A special to the Monitormake angel wings as we did as chil- from Cheyenne, Wyo. tells of a maturedren. In all our hiking we have heard golden eagle being found near Casperor seen very few birds an occasional with a note tied to its leg with heavycrow a few juncos sp~rrows and one barbed wire which read, "To the con-day 'a hawk sailed' majestically above tinued safety of the flocks of Wyoming,us. Last week we saw our first blue- for he died that the lamps may grow,"birds. and signed, "Deadeye." Dr. Oliver K.
Scott, a Casper physician who is alsoThe winds have been so erratic that a cattle rancher told a Senate subcom-
the metal bird feeder with its six-foot mittee in Washington last Decemberpipe has been worthless. The wind that the figures in relation to loss ofhas swirled the seed into the air and lambs by eagles have been so exagger-
" ated as to be totally worthless. Dr.we wIll surely raIse a bumper crop of Scott, president of the Wyoming Audu-
sunflowers, millet and what have you bon Society, said he knew of "only oneif the birds don't find it on the ground. reliable report of an eagle taking aLast year we tried swinging feeders and lamb."they were even more unsatisfactory. Th b .tt h . Se su commi ee c airman, en.
You remember the drawing of the Gale W. McGee of Wyoming, "notedSnowy Owl on the September, 1971 is- that his group had received four univer-sue of "Bird Notes?" There is a beauti- sity level studies completed in recentful picture of one in the March, 1972 years-all concluding that lamb losses
22 ~UTH DAKOTA BIRD NOTES
Notes on Four Nesting(Continued from Page Six)
solitary vireo likes a little beauty in.the otherwise pragmatic affairs of its
sex life.
SUMMARY
During the breeding season of 1971,we found nests of the Brown Creeper,Swainson's Thrush, Townsend's Soli-taire, and Solitary Vireo in the BlackHills. The brown creeper nest, in an un-usual nest cavity, had successful fledg-ing for two of seven hatched young
Red-e y ed Vireo c~eepers. The nest a~parent~y ~s thefIrst full record for thIS specIes m theHills. The Swainson's thrush nest,though plagued by loss of an adult andtwo of three nestlings, seems to be thefirst record for the Black Hills involv-
to eagles were not even a minor prob- ing a nest with young from which at
lem." least one bird fledged. The two Town-send's solitaire nests were of interest
The "Massachusettes Audubon News in their rather late incubation activity
Letter" of January, 1972, gives us the and their proximity, being separated
welcome information that the Whoop- by less than a half mile. The solitarying Crane, North America's largest v~eo nest was located low enough tobird, on the verge of extinction in the YIeld. s~me~hat r:nore elaborate nest
, ..descrIptIon, mcludmg the apparent nestearly 1940 s, has now mcreased ItS pop- decoration of flower petals.
ulation in the wild to about 60. In addi-
tion there are 21 cranes now in captivi- REFERENCESty 11l0st of them resulting from Whoop- Bent, A. C. Life Histories of North.' ...American Nuthatches, Wrens, Thrash.mg Crane egg pIckups m the CanadIaJ) ers, and Their Allies. New York: Do-
wilds, a joint venture of the Fish and ver Publications, Inc., 1964.
Wildlife Service and the Canadian , Life Histories of North Ameri.
Wildlife Service. It is hoped that even- can Thrushes, Kinglets, and theirtually the descendants of these captive Allies. New York: Dover Publica-b. d b 1 d . t th .ld t tions, Inc., 1964.Ir s may e re ease III 0 e WI 0 L.f H " t " f N th A ., 1 e IS ones 0 or merI-add to the cranes already there. Which can Wagtails, Shrikes, Vireos, and
proves that once the public's apathy is Their Allies. New York: Dover Pub.
overcome the survival chances of our lications, Inc., 1965.endangered species are greatly improv- Pettingill, O. S., and Nathaniel R. Whit-d ney, Birds of the Black Hills. Ithaca,e .N.Y.: Cornell Laboratory of Ornith.
That's "30" for now. ology, 1965.
MARCH, 1972 23
1I
Spring Meeting at MobridgeFriday, Saturday and Sunday, June 2-3-4,1972
-PROGRAM-Friday, June 2
Registration and Social Time, Citizen Bank Social Room, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 3Registration-Citizen's Bank, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 NoonOn Your Own Field Trips in AreaBanquet-Country Club, 6:00 p.m. Buffet, $2.25; Program 8:00 p.m.
Registration for banquet must be made by May 27 with Swede Larson, SouthDakota Game, Fish and Parks, Mobridge, S. Dak. 57601.
Sunday, June 4Morning Field Trips
-CAMPING ACCOMMODATIONS-Indian Creep Camp Ground. Running Water and Showers. Located on Banlr of
Missouri River
-MOTELS AND HOTELS-Brown Palace Hotel-A. G. Kohlhaas, owner. Clean, comfortable rooms, air con-
ditioning and television. Family rates. Children under 12 free. Reasonablerates. Phone 845-3611.
Wrangler Motel-Marona Buschbom, owner: Phone 845-3641. 25 units. OverlookingOahe Reservoir. Air conditioned. Hot water heat. Singles, doubles and familyaccommodations. Reasonable prices. Located on U.S. 12 west of Mobridge.
Mo-Rest Motel-Elmer and Elsie Wohl, owners. 505 West Sixth Avenue on High-way 12. Clean and comfortable units. Reasonable rates. Also weekly rates.Colored television, air conditioning and room phones. Phone 845-3668.
Oahe Motel-Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Clapsadale, owners. 506 West Sixth Avenue onHigflway 12. Near the Bait Shop and across from Embers Cafe. Back of Sin-clair Station. Clean" quiet and comfortable. Air conditioning, room phonesand television. Hot water heat and tubs and showers combination. Reasonablerates. Also weekly rates. Phone 845-3628.
Mark Motel-Located on Highway 12, east side of Mobridge. 25 comfortable,clean, single, double and family units. Some with kitchenettes, television,phones, air conditioned. Near restaurants and downtown facilities and one-half block to Drive-Inn. Cement parking area. Coffee in rooms. Some unitswith showers, some units with bathtubs and showers. Travel mat host. Ameri-can Express credit cards. Reasonable rates. Also weekly rates. Delores andAlbert Reiger welcome you. Phone 845-3681. AMHA.
East Side Cabins and Motel-Mr. and Mrs. Herb Mertz, owners. On Highway 12,Seventh Avenue East. Kitchen facilities in all cabins. Eight modern cabinsin all. Six motel units and one apartment unit with cooking in motel. Televi-
sion. Reasonable rates. Also weekly rates. Phone 845-2213.
-CAFES-Sereno Cafe-Open Seven Days Arcade Bar and Grill-Closed SundaysEmbers Cafe-Seven Days Country Club and Moose Club-Five Week Days24 ~OUTH DAKOTA BffiD NOT~
SOUTH DAKOTA BIRD NOTES
Official Publication
of
SOUTH DAKOTA ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION
(Organized 1949)
Vol. XXIV, No.2 JUNE, 1972 Whole No. 93
,c"" ,."""-""""'.' '""'",,,!;::17 ,,_c,. "'
;tbe1 ,fS 0 s'e
..' ". G O.S :~ ,(" "
/')1""
Sharp-shinned Hawk
South Dakota Bird Notes, the Organ of South Dakota Ornithologists' Union, issent to all members whose dues are paid for the current year. Sustaining Members$10.00, Adults $4.00; Juniors (10-16) $2.00. Family Membership (husband andwife) with one subscription to Bird Notes $6.00. Libraries (subscription) $4.00Single and back copies: Members $1.00, Non-members $1.50. All dues should beremitted to the Treasurer, Nelda Holden, Route 1, Box 80, Brookings, S. Dak.57006. All manuscripts for publication should be sent to Co-Editor Don Adolphson,2604 Arrowhead Drive, Rapid City, S. Dak. 57701. Orders for back numbers shouldbe sent to the Librarian, Herman P. Chilson, Webster, S. Dak. 57274. PublishedQuarterly.
Vol. XXIV, No.2 June, 1972 Whole No.. 93
In This Number. ..President's Page, Byron Harrell 27Spring Field Trip Meeting, Mobridge, S. Dak., June 2-4, L. M. Baylor 28Notes on Some Significant Specimens of South Dakota Birds, N. R. Whitney --31In Memoriam, Mrs. Mary B. Hyde 32South Dakota Spring Migration, April I-May 31, 1971, Esther Serr 33General Notes of Special Interest: Hoary Redpolls at Waubay Refuge; South-
ern Black Hills Observations; Goshawk Nest in Black Hills; RuffedGrouse at Grizzly Creek, Black Hills; Unusual Numbers of Scoters inDeuel County-Specimen for Surf Scoter; Breeding Season Distributionfor the Common Snipe in Deuel County; Deuel County Notes, LeconteSparrow at Lake Alice; Notes on the White-eyed Vireo; Eastern Meadow-lark Along James River; Banding Wood Thrushes; An American Egret 42
Snowy Owl Sighting-Region II, Winter 1971-72 47Request for Information 47Notes from Sparks' Mini-Ranch 48
SoUith Dakota Ornithologists' Union
OFFICERS 1971-72Prpsident , Byron Harrell. 1216 Vallpy View Circle. Vermillion 57069VI"p-Presidpnt Bruce Harris. Clear Lake 57266Spcrptary June Harter. Highmore 67345l\{pmbership Chairman. Jean Russell, 427 South Ree, Apt. 2, Pierre 57601T.pasurer Nelda Holden. Rt. I, Box 80, Brooklngs 57006Liaison Chairman. Jean Rnssell. 427 South Ree. Apt. 2, Pierre 67501
ICo-pditor Winona Sparks. Nemo 57769 Co-editor. Don Adolphson. 2604 Arro\vhead Drive. Rapid City 57701
Librarian Herman P. Chilson. Webster 67274
DIRECTORSFor Term Expiring 1972: Byron Harrell. Vermillion; J. 'V. Johnson. Huron; Herbert Krause.
Sioux Falls: B. J. Rose. Rapid City; June Harter, Highmore.
For Term Expiring 1973: Keith Evans. Rapid City; Charles Rogge. Sioux Falls; Don Adolphson.Rapid City; Nelda Holden. Brookings; Lee Eberly. Vermillion.
For Term Expiring 1974: Herman Chilson. 'Vebster; 'VIII Rosine, Sioux Falls; Bruce Harris."'oonsocket; N. R. 'Vhltney Jr.. Rapid City; L. M. Baylor. Rapid City.
26 SOUTH DAKOTA BffiD NOTES
-
C President's Ptlge ~I THINK tho.se who at~ended our ~arlY tee members and their chairman, Dr.
summer fIeld meetIng at Mobndge, Nat Whitney. Unless one has had anS. Dak. would agree that the area was opportunity to see some of the processan excellent one for field trips. Since of data accumulation, of winnowing andthe area was also less well known evaluating, and of correspondence andornithologically than some others, we discussion, one will not realize howare happy that so much more has been much goes into those concise speciesrecorded there. accounts. I believe the completion of
the task will be something in whichOne of my ?wn pleasures. there was both S.D.O.U. and its committee can
to have the fIrst opportUnIty to an- .nounce to the S.D.O.U. something I take great prIde.would like to pass on to all of our read-
ers. We now havecompleted our search One danger for an organization suchfor a publisher for as ours is that of regarding the job welltwhe HCheock-List D' kTh t e done as the completion of the goal of
..ver a 0 a
Museum of the Uni- delineating the status of the birds ofversity of South Dako- South Dakota. A definitive Check-listta has agreed to und- may prompt some to think that theerwrite this project. important information has been collect-This assurance means ..th t f . 1 k ed. A Check-lIst, however, provIdes two
a ma wor can
now be planned and types of data-a summary of the knowna date set as a goal for publication. status of each species, and also, by im-
plication, an account of the status ofThis arrangement has started some the information itself. By this I mean
thoughts on check-lists which I will that a check-list can be read to knowpass on to you. This Check-list will be which areas have been neglected, whata major accomplishment of S.D.O.U. It seasonal information needs further at-is truly a cooperative effort. There tention, what breeding ranges are notwere contributions over the years by well delineated, how adequate are themany to "South Dakota Bird Notes" as ecological data on each species, etc. Ifwell as specifically to the Check-list we approach the Check-list from thiscommittee; this provided a very wide point of view, the Check-list will not bebase. The Check-list would not be writ- a summit to our accomplishment but aten, however, without the countless solid base for the continued ascent-hours of devoted effort of the commit- B. E. Harrell
JUNE, I!Y72 27
Spring Field. Trip Meeting
Mobridge, S. Dak., June 2.4, 1972L. M. Baylor. Rapid City
C AMPBELL, Corson, Dewey, and W-species observed in WalworthWalworth Counties provided the County.
setting for SDOU's spring field-trip Eared Grebe-Cl D Wmeeting, June 2-4, 1972, with head- Western Grebe-Cl Cn D Wquarters at Mobridge. Clear, comforta- Pied-billed Grebe-Cl Cn Wble, rain-free weather enhanced the White Pelican-Cnsingle-party field trips in the cultivated Double-crested Cormorant-Cl Cn Dareas of Campbell and Walworth Coun- Wties and the grasslands of Corson and Great Blue Heron-Cn D WDewey counties. The geophysical condi- Black-crowned Night Heron-Cl Wtions of the Missouri River area added American Bittern-Cl Wto the delight of SDOU members who Mallard-Cl Cn D Whad little previous experience in these Gadwall-Cl Cn D Wcircumstances. Pintail-Cl Cn D W
SDOU'ers are indebted to hosts Green-,,:inged Teal-Cl WSwede Larson and Warren Jackson for Blue-"!mged .Teal-Cl Cn D Warranging the meeting room and the AmerIcan WIdgeon-Cl Cn D Wbanquet facilities and to President By- Shoveler-Cl Cn D W
ron Harrell for his interesting presen- ~edhea:-kCl ~l ~tation on his studies of the flora and anvas ac -avifauna of the cloud forest in Mexico. Lesser Scaup-Cl W
Ruddy Duck-Cl D WThe numerous species observed by Turkey Vulture-D
the field parties reinforces knowledge Red-tailed Hawk-Cl C'n Wof late-spring and early-summer birds Swainson's Hawk-Cl Cn Wfor this modestly studied area. But this Ferruginous Hawk-Cl Wknowledge raises questions for further Marsh Hawk-Cl Cn D Winvestigation; for example, why were Sparrow Hawk-Cl Dthe golden eagle and chipping sparrow Sharp-tailed Grouse-Dconspicuously absent, and why were so Ring-necked Pheasant-Cl Cn D Wfew Brewer's blackbirds and sparrow Gray Partridge-Cl Whawks noted? Virginia Rail-Cl
Sora-W ISPECIES LIST American Coot-Cl Cn D W .
Symbols: Killdeer-Cl Cn D WBlack-bellied Plover-D (B. Harris)
Cl-species observed in Campbell Upland Plover-Cl Cn D WCounty. Spotted Sandpiper-W
Cn-species observed in Corson Coun- Willet-Cl D Wty. Lesser Yellowlegs-Cl W
D-species observed in Dewey Coun- White-rumped Sandpiper-Cl D Wty. Long-billed Dowitcher-W
28 SOUTH DAKOTA BIRiD NOTES
Marbled Godwit-CI D W Eastern Bluebird-CI Cn WAmerican A vocet-CI Cn D W Cedar Waxwing-CI WWilson's Phalarope-CI Cn D W Loggerhead Shrike-CI Cn D WHerring Gull-Cn (W. Hall) Starling-CI Cn D WRing-billed Gull-CI Cn W Red-eyed Vireo-CI D WFranklin's GuH-CI D Warbling Vireo-CI WForster's Tern-Cl W Bell's Vireo-Cn (B. Harris)Black Tern-CI Cn D W Yellow Warbler-CI Cn D WMourning Dove-CI Cn D W Yellowthroat-CI Cn D WYellow-billed Cuckoo-D W American Redstart-D WBlack-billed Cuckoo-CI Cn D W House Sparrow-Cl Cn D WGreat Horned Owl-Cl Cn Bobolink-CI Cn D WBurrowing Owl-CI Cn D W Western Meadowlark-CI Cn D WLong-eared OwI-W (J. Johnson) Yellow-headed Blackbird-CI Cn D WShort-eared Owl-CI Cn D W Red-winged Blackbird-CI Cn D WCommon Nighthawk-CI Cn D W Orchard Oriole-CI Cn D WChimney Swift-W Baltimore Oriole-CI Cn D WBelted Kingfisher-CI Cn D Bullock's Oriole-Cn (B. Harris) DFlicker (Y-s/R-s hybrids)-CI Cn D (apparent hybrid, B. Harris)'
W Common Grackle-CI Cn D WRed-headed Woodpecker-C1 D Brewer's Blackbird-WDowny Woodpecker-W Brown-headed Cowbird-CI Cn D WEastern Kingbird-CI Cn D W Rose-breasted Grosbeak-CI (H.Western Kingbird-CI Cn D W Krause, R. Nelson) .Great Crested Flycatcher-D Black-headed Grosbeak-Cn D WEastern Phoebe-Cn Blue Grosbeak-CnSay's Phoebe-CI W Lazuli Bunting-CI WTraill's Flycatcher-CI W Dickcissel-CI Cn D WLeast Flycatcher-CI Cn W American Goldfinch-CI Cn D WEastern Wood Pewee-D (N. Holden) Rufous-sided Towhee-Cn DHorned Lark-CI Cn D W Lark Bunting-CI Cn D WTree Swallow-CI W Savannah Sparrow-CI Cn DBank Swallow-CI D Grasshopper Sparrow-CI Cn D WRough-winged Swallow-CI Cn W Vesper Sparrow-CI Cn D WBarn Swallow-CI Cn D W Lark Sparrow-CI.Cn D WCliff Swallow-CI Cn D W Clay-colored Sparrow-WPurple Martin-CI W Field Sparrow-Cn DBlue Jay-CI Cn D W Song Sparrow-CI D WBlack-billed Magpie-Cn D Chestnut-collared Longspur-CI CnCommon Crow-Cl Cn W D WBlack-capped Chickadee~D W Total species: 123House Wren-CI Cn D WLong-billed Marsh Wren-C1 W A committee of field ornithologistsShort-billed Marsh Wren-CI (B. reviewed this species list. From knowl-
Summerside) edge of the area and typical species forRock Wren-Cn (W. Hall) ...Catbird-CI D W the tIme of year, thIs commIttee
Brown Thrasher-CI Cn D W thought that five reported speciesRobin-CI Cn D W should not be made a part of the public
JUNE, 1972 29
--
record until further evidence can be pecker, Wood Thrush, Black and Whiteestablished by specimens or photo- Warbler, Ovenbird, and Yellow-breastedgraphs. The compiler hopes the obser. Chat.vers of these deleted species will under-stand and accept this cautious judg-ment.
Observers reported nesting evidence REGISTRATION LIST-MOBRIDGEfor the following species: JUNE 2-4, 1972
Western Grebe-ClMallard-Cl .Aberdeen-Mr. and Mrs. W. L.Pintail-Cl W Downs, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Lynch,Bl -. g d T l- CI C W Everett Montgomery and Mr. and Mrs.uewm e ea n W Ph.ll. ayne I IpS.~
Marsh Hawk-CIA . C t Cl Brookings-Dr. and Mrs. David Hold-L
merlcan 00-
.en.( Mournmg Dove-CI W';
G t H d 0 l - Cl Clear Lake-Bruce Harris, Gordon
rea orne w H . d M k H .; arriS an ar ams.Flicker-CI WEastern Kingbird-Cn High~nore-June Harter.
Western Kingbird-Cl W Hurley-Mr. and Mrs. Enoch Breen.
Horned Lark-Cl Huron-Blanche Battin, Mr. and Mrs.Barn Swallow-Cl W Jim Johnson and Mary Aberdeen Ke-Cliff Swallow-Cl Cn W telle.Black-capped Chickadee-D Mobridge-Warren Jackson, SwedeBrown Thrasher- W Larson and Stan Mack.Robin-W Pierre-Bob Summerside Patricia
,
Loggerhead Shrike-Cn Summerside and Mrs. Edith Vander-Starling-:-W wall.
Bell's Vireo-Cn Prairie City-Mr. and Mrs. AlfredAmerican Redstart-W Hinds.
Yellow-headed Blackbird-Cl Rapid City-Les Baylor, Don Hig-Common Grackle-W gins, Bruce Lehmann, Esther Serr, Mr.
and Mrs. Leonard Yarger and Dr. andPOSTSCRIPT TO THE SPECIES LIST Mrs. N. R. Whitney.
Sioux Falls-Herb Krause, Ron Nel-Nelda and David Holden extended son, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Rogge.
their participation in the spring meet- Vermillion-Dr. and Mrs. Byron Har-ing Sunday afternoon, June 4, 1972, rell.after the close of the species list call- Webster-Herman Chilson.off. They visited the Little Moreau Ri- ..
St t P k . D C t th Yankton-Mr. and Mrs. WillIS Hall.ver a e ar m ewey oun y, sou
of Timber Lake, and recorded the fol. Gillette, Wyo.-Tom Hays.
lowing additional species: Hairy Wood- -L. M. Baylor, Rapid City
30 SOUTH DAKOTA BIRD NOTES
IIl
Notes on Some Significant Specimens
of South Dakota BirdsN. R. Whitney
D URING the past few years, several County, on Dec. 20, 1969 (see S.D.B.N.,unusual South Dakota specimens vol. XXII, p. 81, June 1970). Skin pre-
have come to me for salvage under the pared January, 1972.terms of my collecting and salvagingpermit. Since Editor Adolphson and Ithink that these should be recorded I BAND-TAILED PIGEON,am summarizing them here. (Columba fasciata) NRW No. 509
GYRFALCON (Falc rusti I ) Found dead by George Lavina at his
0 co us Meade County ranch, and reported by
NRW No. 510 him at our Bison meeting in June, 1970.The details of the death of this bird I prepared this specimen in 1971.
were reported by Drewein in S.D.B.N.,vol. XXI, pp. 19-20, March 1969. Subse.quently B. J. Rose measured it and sus- SAGE THRASHER
pected from measurements that it (Oreoscoptes montanus) NRW No. 363might be the subspecies Uralensis from Found dead by L. M. Baylor nearSiberia rather than the North American Edgemont, Fall River County. Identityrace. Therefore, I sent it, through the confirmed in 1968 by George M. Sut-kindness of Tom and Carlyn Jervis, to ton.the American Museum of Natural His-tory for determination and for theirpermanent collection. PURPLE FINCH
DUNLIN (Er Ii al. ) NRW N 464 (Carpodacus purpureus) N.RW 3370 a pma o. Found dead near Sturgis, Meade
Found injured near Fort Sisseton, County. Specifically identified byMarshall County, by Bruce Harris on George M. Sutton in May 1968, thusMay 17, 1969. confirming the presell.ce of the species
in the Black Hills.
NORTHERN PHALAROPE(Lobipes lobatus) NRW No. 465 BREWER'S SPARROW
Found dead in downtown Rapid City (Spizella breweri) NRW 401May 19, 1969, by students from theUniversity of Minnesota at Duluth, and Found dead in Rapid City Sept. 12,given to me by Dr. John Green of the 1967. Identity confirmed in May 1968Geology faculty. by George M. Sutton.
BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE Except for the Gyrfalcon, all of the(Rissa tricactyly) NRW No. 526 abo~e speci~ens are .st.ill in my pos-
session, pendIng a decIsion on perman-Found dead near Stttrgis, Meade ent disposition.
.JUNE, 1972 31
]u ~t:m1triam
Mrs. A. L. (Mary B.) Hyde died June 10, 1972, as aresult of a fatal heart attack induced by the devastatingflood at Rapid City during the night of June 9-10. As anSDOU member, she contributed occasional items to "BirdNotes," including her most treasured report: "VariedThrush at Rapid City" (X :64). In recent years her observa-tions were channeled through the seasonal reports sponsoredby the Black Hills Audubon Society. In her time of greaterstrength and energy, she was a frequent participant in theannual SDOU meetings. Over the years she developed aprivate bird haven at her home in the Braeburn Addition,and birding friends and photographers were always wel-come to share the delightful circumstances for observingbirds.
Mary Hyde once remarked about a deceased friend:"She was a good person to know and to talk to, and perhapsa person can have no greater epitaph." SDOU members andfriends echo those words as they grieve the passing and re-joice in the memory of Mary Hyde.
32 SOUTH DAKOTA BffiD NOTES
South Dakota Spring Migration
April 1, 1972. May 31, 1972
WEATHER AND OBSERVATIONS 5-31 BKH; 4-13 (4), 5-19 (30) Hyde' April rather dry, cool, and not much County JH; 4-6 (2) to 5-9 (150) peak
..wind. Nearly nine inches of rain, Day Waubay NWR, EJF; 4-7 (40) Aberdeen;:' County and six inches, Hyde County in 4-9 (3) Pierre; 5-7 (20) LaCreek NWR
May. Water levels in wetlands best in (EMS); 5-1 (1) Madison; 5-4 (7) Mor-many years in eastern South Dakota. gan Dam, Custer County BN.RRJ. Great Blue Heron-4-1 (35) nest her-
SPECIES onry below Antelope Island, MissouriLOONS, GREBES, PELICANS, River, BJR; 4-2 (18) nest heronry, 37
CORMORANTS AND HERONS individuals by 4-9, Battle Creek, CusterCommon Loon-(15) birds from 4-4 County BHAS; (22) birds in other
through 5-2 in eastern South Dakota. sightings over state.Red-necked Grebe-4-24 (1) Waubay Little Blue Heron-5-12 (2) Buffalo
NRW (RRJ); 4-29 (1) Aberdeen LRL; County at side of road without binocu-5-2 Hutchinson County WHo lars by three observers (fide JH).
Horned Grebe-4-12 to 4-24 (10) Cattle Egret-(9) birds 4-24 throughWaubay through 5-16, total (15) birds. period; on 4-29 at Hurley (4) bedrag-
Eared Grebe-4-15 to 5-3 (50) Salt gled birds in rain pulling worms inLake, Campbell County WHo cattle yard CB.
Western Grebe-4-13 (11) to 5-9 (40) Common Egret-4-20 (1) Scatterwoodall at Waubay NWR, RRJ; few at Lakes; 4-29 (1) Waubay; 4-21 (2) Hydepoints over state to 5-19. County; 5-14 (6) probably nesting at
Pied-billed Grebe-Few from 4-4 Pierre BJR.through 5-10 at most points in the Black-crowned Night Heron-4-22state. (8), 5-8 (3) Hyde County JH; 4-24 no
White Pelican-4-6 (230) Lewis and apparent drop in numbers in DeuelClark Lake; 4-7 (100) Meade County or Roberts Counties BKH; 4-30 manyin flight DA; 4-10 (40) Waubay Lake in nesting colony, Scatterwood LakesBLG; 4-13 (300) near Bradley, Clark BJR; 4-29 (2) slough condition at SandCounty RRJ; 4-14 Roberts County BKH; Lake, Brown County, not so good LRL;4-15 (9) Aberdeen LRL; 4-12 (10) 5-4 (25) to peak of (50) by 5-9 EJF;Pickstown, Charles Mix County BJR; 5-20 (6) LaCreek NWR.4-17 Deuel County BKH; 4-22 (50) Scat. Least Bittern-5-22 (1) Pierre BJR.terwood Lakes, Faulk-Edmund County American Bittern-4-30 through 5-4LRL; 5-2 (two flocks of 90 each) Hutch- (7) sightings, east river.inson County; 5-2 (97) Douglas County White-faced Ibis-4-23 (1) with Long-WH; 4-24 (8) Vermillion, Clay County billed Curlews in irrigated field, BattleSE. Creek, Custer County, photographed by
Double.crested Cormorant-4-5 (3), Doris and Bob Knecht, and sighting4-9 (24),4-12 (40),4-21 (34),5-1 (13), verified 4-24 by three members of Black5-19 (2) Lewis and Clark Lake, Mis- Hills Audubon Society. Previous sight-souri River WH; 4-10 Deuel County ings 5-17-70 (4) at Seavey's Lake, Rapid(40) forming colony, two on nest by City.
JUNE, 1972 33
SWAN, GEESE AND DUCKS Kans., of two. Do the Whoopers stayWhistling Swan-4-6 (75) near Wau- in large flocks or do they divide into
bay NWR (RRJ). smaller groups? It would seem thatGiant Canada Goose-5-10 first brood, there should be more sightings along
Waubay RRJ; 5-19 (two adults, six the way to Wood Buffalo National Parkyoung) Cactus Flats Dam, Jackson in northern Alberta. Velma DeVriesCounty EMS. said, "You'll never convince my family
Lesser Canada Goose-4-10 Canadas, that they didn't see Whooping Cranes!"Snow and Blue began to come in so Sandhill Crane-4-16 several smallthat by 4-15 nearly 6000 of which two- flocks heard in migration RRJ; 4-17thirds were Snow and Blue and one- (4) Clark County, (15) Deuel Countythird Canada on a pond near Vermil- BJR; 4-3 (185), 4-8 (250), 4-10 (350 inlion, Clay County SE. four flocks), 4-14 (400),4-15 (270),4-23
Mallard-Common over state. (5) Hyde County JH; 4-7 (200) Vivian,Gadwall-Few at Canyon Lake, Rapid Jones County LMB; 4-23 (8) Hurley
City, all period. CB.Pintail-5-14 Seavey's Lake, Meade Virginia Rail-5-11 (3) Pierre BJR;
County adult with eight young LMB. 5-20 (1) LaCreek NWR (EMS).Green-winged Teal-4-1 (2) to 4-23 Sora-5-10 (2) Pierre; 4-12 (1) Wau-
(7) at Rapid City BHAS; 4-12 (5) Wau- bay RRJ; 5-8 (1) Aberdeen.bay-only sighting east river. American Coot-4-5 (1049) to (8183)
GROUSE AND PHEASANT 4-24 down to (270) 5-1 and (2) on 5-29Greater prairie Chicken.-l0 miles -some grazed greedily in the grass
south of Ft. Pierre, three grounds in WH; 4-13 appeared in one habitat neararea, and all three audible from one Highmore, Hyde County where theyplace, 5-10 (four males) on one ground hadn't been for six or seven years be-BJR. cause of low water JH; 5-4 (75) Custer
Sharp-tailed Grouse-4-23 (3) Pen- County BN; 5-28 few nests near high-nington; 5-3 (1) Walworth County. way, Freeman, Hutchinson County,
Bobwhite-5-21 (1) south of Burke EMS; 5-29 too many on nests to countGregory County near Nebraska lin~ while driving in the rain along a largeEMS; 5-18 heard, Vermillion KJM. slough near Reliance, Lyman County
Pheasant-(19) birds sighted during EMS.period over state. SHOREBIRDS
Turkey-4-1 (4) Piedmont Bum, Piping Plover-4-9 through 5-21 (14)Black Hills; 5-3 (3) Lake Louise, Hand birds, Yankton and Pierre.County WHo Killdeer-Common over state.
CRANES AND RAILS American Golden Plover-5-2 (1) Ab-Whooping Crane-(Red List) 4-6 erdeen; 4-12 (50) Claire City, Roberts
(24) between 5 and 6 p.m. flying 100 County RRJ; 5-11 (three flocks) Rob-feet above the ground and following erts County, 5-11 (1) Hamlin Countythe White River, and not carrying their BKM.heads like Pelicans. They were seen by Ruddy Tumstone-4-27 (2) RushWallace DeVries and his two teenage Lake, Day County RRJ.sons while driving cattle with a pickup. American Woodcock-4-1 (one speci-Checking "American Birds" from spring men DOR) to conservation officer at1965 through 1971, most of the cranes Sisseton; 4-2 (1) Roberts County BKH;leave Arkansas about 3-28 through the second South Dakota nest record dur-first week in April up to 35 in a group. ing April by John Gates, BrookingsThere was one sighting 4-12-71, Hays, County; 5-8 (1) Yankton County BJR.
34 SOUTH DAKOTA BIRD NOTES
Common Snipe.-4-19 (8) Creek, over state, total (26) birds over state.Rapid City BG; 4-6 winnowing male Canvasback-4-13 (10) W a u bayDeuel County; 5-6 (5),5-7 (3) Walworth NWR; 5-8 (1) Lake Andes, Charles MixCounty WH; 5-14 (2) winnowing males, County WHoRoberts County BKH. Greater ScauP-4-22 (one pair) care-
Long-billed Curlew-4-8 through peri- fully identified at 20 yards with binocu-od-western South Dakota; 5-7 none in lars and Lesser Scaup for comparison100-mile drive through Meade County; at Lake Alice, Deuel County BKH.5-30 (12) close together and nesting, Lesser Scaup-4-1 (7) to 5-10 (10)Rapid City RES. down to 5-14 Canyon Lake; 4-4 (43)
Upland Plover-4-12 through period L&C Lake WHoover the state and seem to be increas. Common Goldeneye-Last date 4-10ing. Hurley CB.
Spotted Sandpiper-4-30 through 5- Bufflehead-Few 4-1 through 5-12 for20 few from all state observers. entire state.
Solitary Sandpiper-4-7 through 5-10 Ruddy-4-5 to 4-24 (10) L&C to 5-6(3) sightings in eastern South Dakota. (110) Salt Lake, Campbell County WH
Willet-4-20 through period, (23) to 5-23 (five pairs) Hyde County.birds over the state. Hooded Merganser-4-10 (one pair)
Greater Yellowlegs-4-9 (12) to 4-11 Hurley CB; 4-5 (1) Aberdeen; 4-25 (If.)(13) Hyde County JHH through 4-29- Deuel County BKH.total (35) over state. Red-breasted Merganser-4-5 (2), 4-
Lesser Yellowlegs-4-10 to 4-23 (8) 20 (1) L&C WH; 5-29 (If.) Pierre BJR.Hyde County through 5-20-total (19) HAWKS AND EAGLESbirds over state. Turkey Vulture-4-12 (1) Rapid City
Pectoral Sandpiper-4-18 (10) Wau- GRB; averaged one sighting per weekbay; 5-2 (1) Aberdeen; 5-10 (1) Pierre. along edge of Black Hills from Rapid
White-romped Sandpiper-4-15 (1) City tc Sturgis BHAS; 4-7 (3) BadAberdeen; 5-10 (1) Pierre. Lands roost CY; 4-26 (1) Waubay-
Blue-winged Teal-Common allover first in 10 years BLG; 4-13 (3) first instate. Hyde County JH; 4-12 (30) north of
.Cinnamon Teal-4-2 (1) Pierre; 4-11, Pickstown BJR; 4-30 (15) Pierre BJR.5-23, 5-25 first time in Hyde County Goshawk-4-3 on nest near Nemo,JH. Black Hills (Forest Service).
American Widgeon-5-14 (2) last at Sharp-shinned Hawk-4-4 (1), 5-6 (1)Canyon Lake, Rapid City. Aberdeen LRL, BJR.
Shoveler-5-4 (75) Custer County Cooper's Hawk-4-21 (1) clung t()BN; 5-19 (20) Cactus Flats Dam, Jack- the screen door on the porch of G. L.son County. Common over state. DeFord, Rapid City. Rabbits under the
Wood Duck-4-16 (one pair) Hurley porch were probably the reason theCB; 4-9 nest at Farm Island, Missouri bird stayed almost continuously fromRiver BJR; 5-2 (one pair), 5-15 (two 3 p.m. until dark (photographed); 4-10,males) Vermillion KJH; 5-6 (1) Aber- 5-15 (1) Roberts County BKH.deen; 5-15, 5-16 (1), 5-19 (3) L&C Lake Red-tailed Hawk-(8) sightings inWHo state; 5-4 (2) nests, Custer County BN;
; Redhead-4-1 (9) Canyon Lake to 5-4, 5-16 (2) nests Deuel County BKH.~ 4-5 (10) L&C Lake to 5-6 (35) Sand Harlan's Hawk-4-2 (1) Roberts
Lake, Campbell County WH to 5-20 County BKH; 44 (1) Aberdeen; 4-30(four pair) Hyde County JR. (1) Pierre.
Ring-necked Duck-4-1 through 5-8 Broad-winged Hawk-4-19 (4) singles
JUNE, 1972 35
,_.1
r 'i;I
29 (1) Aberdeen; 5-19 (1) Yankton GOATSUCKERS, SWIFTS,
County. HUMMINGBIRDS AND KINGFISHER
Least Tern-5-19 (1) L&C; 5-21 (1) Common Nighthawk-5-19 through 5-Pierre. 22 arrival over state.
l Black Tern-4-10 through 5-20 over Chimney Swift-5-4 to 5-17 arrival ov-, state-total (34). er state.I Mourning Dove-5-8 ground nest near White.throated Swift-4-22 (6), 4-23
Yankton where trees are abundant BJR. (30) Canyon Lake BHAS.' Common over state. Belted Kingfisher-4-6 to 4-18 arrival
Black-billed Cuckoo-5-29 (1) speci- date over state.r men given to NRW, Rapid City. WOODPE.CKERS
Yellow-shafted Flicker-4-1 to 4-10
OWLS Pierre and Waubay.Hybrid Flicker-Daily in Rapid City;
Screech Owl-5-13 Aberdeen LRL. peak 5-4 when they seemed every-Great Homed Owl-4-10 (1) Belle where in Red Rock Canyon, Rapid City
Fourche IW. 5-3 nest, two downy young, TM.Philip, Haakon County, 5-4 nest, two Red. h e a d e d Woodpecker -4-20young, Fairburn, 5-20 nest, one young through 5-22 arrival date over state.LaCreek BHAS; 5-2 (2) Lake Louise, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker-4-3 throughHand County, 5-8 (1) Lake Platte, Char- 4-11 arrival for east river; nesting forles Mix County, 5-3 (1) Walworth Coun- fourth year along Big Stone Lake, Rob-ty WH; 5-25 fledging, Vermillion KJH. erts County BKH.
Snowy Owl-4-13 (1) Hyde County Hairy and Downy Woodpecker-Daily..."the largest and whitest the obseI"- at Rapid City and several sightings atver had ever seen." JH; 4-13 (1) Wau. Yankton.bay RRJ. FLYCATCHERS LARKS AND
Burrowing Owl-4-15 (1) Aberdeen; SWALLOWS5-4 (1), 5-6 (2) Campbell County WH; Eastern Kingbird-4-11 through 5-175-9 (1),5-20 (2) same place, 5-23 (1) arrival at all points-too numerous toanother part of Hyde County JH; 5-10 count.(1) Pierre. Western Kingbird-4-30 through 5-5
Long-eared Owl-4-10 s p e c i men arrival at points east river; 5-18 few(DOR), Deuel County BKH. sightings in Black Hills.
Short-eared Owl-1972 is the year for Great Crested Flycatcher-5-19 (1)the Short-eared Owls. ..4-14 Waubay Aberdeen; 5-22 (1) Pierre.(1); 4-20 (1) Aberdeen; 4-19 (1) Wall Eastern Phoebe-4-14 (1) Waubay;with prey DA; 4-26 (2) Cottonwood, 5-6 (1) Aberdeen; 5-14 (1) BJR.Jackson County NRW; 5-8 (1) Vermil- Say's Phoebe-4-30 (1) Seavey's BG;lion KJH; 5-14 nest, four young banded, 4-27 (1) Pierre.Pennington; 5-4 (1) 1-90, New Under- Yellow-bellied Flycatcher-5-8 (1)wood LMB; 5-23 nest, four young, Butte Aberdeen; 5-14 (1) Yankton; 5-19 speci-County LMB; 5-27 nest, five young men, Deuel County, 5-26 (3) Robertsbanded, Pennington RES; 5-27 (10) in County in different areas BKH.about a four-mile square area, Rapid Traill's Flycatcher-5-1 (1) Aber.City BHAS; 5-28 (4) Cottonwood NRW; deen; 5-10 Hyde County.5-3 (6) Walworth County; 5-5 (4) Least Flycatcher-5-1 through 5-16Dewey County 5-30 (1) Walworth Coun- arrival date over state.ty WH; 5-21 (3) Harding County, 5-28 Western Flycatcher-5-31 (1) Rapid(1) Lyman County DA. City NRW.
JUNE. 1972 37
Eastern Wood Pewee-5-6 Hyde pid City TH; 5-10 (1) Aberdeen.County 5-21 (1) Aberdeen. Brown Creeper-4-10 (7), 4-12, 4-14,
Western Wood Pewee-5-5, 5-18, 5- 5-1 (one each) Hyde County; 4-16 sing-31 singles Rapid City. ing in Black Hills TH.
Olive.sided Flycatcher-S p e c i men Dipper-5-11 (2) feeding young, 5-19Deuel County 5-23 BKH. (4) downy young show in nest, Thun-
Homed Lark-5-7 about four per derhead Falls, Black Hills TH, DK.mile near Rapid City which is low in House Wren-4-20 through 5-7 arrivalnumber; six per mile, Meade County; over state.5-18 (2) Yankton WHo Long-billed Marsh Wren-5-12 Pierre
Violet-green Swallow-4-23 too num- BJR; 5-20 (4) and one nest LaCreekerous to count, Canyon Lake; none at NWR (EMS).other points. Short-billed Marsh Wren-5-4 (1)
Tree Swallow-4-14 through 5-4 all Deuel County-good view and earlypoints over state. BKH.
Bank Swallow-4-29 through 5-20 at Rock Wren-4-18 (1) Rapid CityAberdeen, Madison and Yankton. NRW.
Rough-winged SwaIlow-4-26 through MIMIDS, THRUSHES, KINGLETS,5-10 arrival for most points over state. PIPITS AND WAXWINGS
Barn Swallow-4-12 (200) Waubay, Catbird-5-10 through 5-19 arrivalgeneral migration RRJ; after 4-30 too over state.numerous to count over state. Brown Thrasher-4-24 last date for
Cliff Swallow-5-6 Aberdeen through bird that wintered in Rapid City EAS;5-19 hundreds under bridges on 1-90 4-20 through 4-30 arrival over state; 5-2Pennington and Jackson Counties as (six pair) in 25 miles, Hyde County JH.well as all points in the state. Robin-Common over state in good
Purple Martin-4-11 through 5-5 all number.points east river. Hermit Thrush-4-10 through 5-13
CORVIDAE singles, Aberdeen, Yankton, Rapid City,Blue Jay-5-14 (10) Hyde County, 5. and Waubay.
29 (1) juvenile, Yankton WH; at all Swainson's Thrush-4-27 through 5-6points in state. arrival at all points over state.
Black-billed Magpie-Daily around Wood Thrush-4-18 through 4-20Rapid City, Cheyenne River, Wasta; Yankton (few).4-12 (1) Yankton, Lyman and Gregory Gray-cheeked Thrush-4-23 throughCounties WHo 5-11 few at all points over state.
Common Crow-Common in state. Veery-4-21 (1) Aberdeen LRL, 5-14Pinon Jay-Daily flocks from 18 to (1) Aberdeen BJR.
60 at edge of Black Hills, 5-4 dive- Eastern Bluebird-5-21 Pierre; 5-1bombed observers, 5-25 young flying Hyde County; 4-1 Hurley; 5-27 Cresbardwell (30 adults, 15 immature) TH. (singles).
CHICKADEES, NUTHATCHES, Mountain Bluebird-4-11 through 5.CREEPER, DIPPER AND WRENS 19 (26) in eight sightings in BlackBlack-capped Chickadee-Daily at Ra- Hills BHAS.
pid City feeding stations, adults feeding Townsend's Solitaire-4-16 (one pair)each other, paired for nesting BHAS; higher Black Hills, 5-17 (1) Rapid City4-2 (1),5-19 (2) Yankton. BHAS.
White-breasted Nuthatch-5-14 (1), Golden-crowned Kinglet-4-10 through4-10 Yankton. 4-13 (4) in two sightings, Hyde County
Red-breasted Nuthatch-5-4 (2) Ra- JH.
:\8 SOUTH DAKOTA ffiRD NOTES
" -~
Ruby-crowned Kinglet-4-11 through Cape May-5-11 (1) Aberdeen LRL;5-13 (13) birds total for most points in 5-14 (1) Aberdeen BJR; 5-16 (onestate. young male) Deuel County BKH.
Water Pipit-4-27 Aberdeen. Black-throated Blue Warbler-5-16Cedar Waxwing-4-1 small flocks, (one female) Deuel County, unusual for
Pierre; 4-1 through 5-19 flocks 10 to 20 spring BKH.I Hyde County JH; 4-23 (3) Hurley; 4-6 Myrtle-4-18 through 5-6; heavy mi-
Cresbard; using spruce tree for roost gration at Rapid City-5-4 (20) catch-I 4-6 through 4-25 (about 60), 4-28 court- ing flies, 5-6 (300) Canyon Lake, 5-7
ship, flocks of 20 to 40 all during peri- (100) too many by 5-16, few throughod, Rapid City BHAS; 4-5 through 5-11 period BHAS.flocks five to 27 Yankton County, 5-5, Audubon's-4-20 through 5-20, small5-6 (6) Mobridge WHo numbers, Rapid City.SHRIKES, STARLINGS AND VIREOS Chestnut-sided-5-11 (1) Yankton; 5-
Loggerhead Shrike-4-9 through peri- 21 (3) Deuel County.od at Rapid City, (two to six) every Bay-breasted-5-24 Aberdeen LRL.field trip, 5-7 averaged one per five Blackpoll-5-1 through 5-15 (totalmiles for 100 miles through Meade seven) from Pierre, Hyde County, Ab-County BHAS; 5-2, 5-7 (11), 5-8 singly erdeen, Yankton, Cresbard, Rapid City.or in pairs, Yankton WH; 4-22 through Palm-5-5 Aberdeen LRL, 5-14 (17)5-9 (3) singles, Hyde County JH. Aberdeen BJR; 5-8 (1) Waubay; 5-12
Starling-5-1 first time to be seen (one male) Yankton.in Nameless Cave Road, Black Hills, G. Ovenbird-5-11 through 5-19 mostL. DeFord. points east river.
Bell's Vireo-5-21 (1) Pierre; 5-10 Northern Waterthrush-5-6 throughAberdeen; 5-29 (one pair) Yankton 5-15 most points east river.WHo Mourning-5-13 (1) Hyde County; 5-
Yellow-throated Vireo-5-13 (1) 15 (1) Yankton.Yankton; 5-16 Deuel County, 5-17, 5-26 MacGillivray's-5-29 (1) banded,(1) Roberts County BKH. Pierre BJR.
Solitary Vireo-5-13 (1) Yankton; Yellowthroat-4-28 through 5-19 ar.5-14 (4) Rapid City TH. rival over state; nesting in Hyde Coun-
Red-eyed Vireo-5-16 through 5-27 ty.arrival at all points in state. Yellow.breasted Chat-5-19 through
War,bling Vireo-5-16 through 5-22 5-29 (3) birds, Rapid City, Hyde Coun-arrival at all points in state. ty, Pierre.
WARBLERS Wilson's-5-5 Aberdeen LRL, 5-14Black and White-5-1 through 5-14 (1) Aberdeen BJR; 5-13 through 5-19
(15) individuals east river. (1) Hyde County JH.Tennessee-5-12 (1) Yankton; 5-13 Canada-5-6 Aberdeen; 5-17 Deuel
(2) Hyde County. County, 5-18 Brookings County BKH.Orange-cr 0 w n e d War b 1 e r-4-17 American Redstart-5-10 through 5-
through 5-15 at all points over state; 18 arrival over state; 5-18 (12) Rapid5-9 heavy stream at Rapid City NRW; City.poor migration, Deuel County BKH.
Nashville-5-18 (4) Rapid City BG. HOUSE SPARROW, BLACKBffiDSYellow-5-6 through 5-21 at all points AND TANAGERS
in state. House Sparow-Decreasing, YanktonMagnolia-5-11 through 5-19 few at WHo
all east river points. Bobolink-5-14 (19) Aberdeen BJR
JUNE, 1972 39
"
through 5-29 (8) Seavey's, Meade Coun- (1) Rapid City; 5-13, 5-14 (1) Bellety NRW and most points. Fourche IW. (Unusual invasion over
Eastern Meadowlark-5-20 LaCreek state.)NWR, several in with Western EMS.. Black.headed G r 0 s be a k-5-8 (1)
Western Meadowlark-Common in Pierre; 5-12 singles almost dailystate with increase in Hyde County and through 5-31 Rapid City BHAS.around Rapid City. Indigo Bunting-5-18 (1), 5-29 (1)
IYellow.headed Blackbird-4-12 Rapid City, 5-20 (1) Tuthill, Bennettthrough 4-24 arrival over state; 5-6 County BHAS; 5-31 (1) Pierre BJR; 5-(230) near three lakes in Walworth and 19 (1) Aberdeen LRL.Campbell Counties WHo Lazuli Bunting-5-5 through 5-16 (12)
Red.winged Blackbird-Common over Rapid City; 5-11 (1) Hyde County JH.state. Dickcissel-5-16 (8) Volin, Yankton
Orchard Oriole-5-17 through 5-21 County WH; 5-20 (6) to a mile, Madi-(18) birds sighted over state; 5-23 son RB; 5-22 (40) Aberdeen LRL.(three pair) Hyde County JH. Evening Grosbeak-4-1 (3),4-12 pairs
Baltimore Oriole-4-30 through 5-12 showing, females fighting, 4-26 flocksarrival over the state. of 20, 5-1 fewer in number but daily
Bullock's Oriole-5-16 (1) through 5- through 5-16, Rapid City BHAS.20, 5-31 n~st on Box Elder Creek, Rapid Purple Finch-Almost daily throughCreek, Rapid City BHAS. 4-19-two or three, Rapid City, BHAS.
Brewer's Blackbird-4-24 C u s t e r Pine Siskin-4-1 Aberdeen; 4-4 fewCounty, 4-30 (1),5-14 (1) Rapid City, to 4-18 flock of 25 to 30 through 4-30,BHAS. then down to few by 5-13, Rapid City,
Common Grackle- V e r y common BHAS.through state. American Goldfinch-4-11 (12) two
Brown-headed Cowbird-4-16 arrival, bright yellow plumage, 5-8 through 5-total (60) birds-greatest concentration 13 (100's) Rapid City, G. L. DeFord;west of Missouri River, Brule County 5-17 (100) Hyde County, and a few atWH and Hyde County JH. most points over state.
Western Tanager-5-11 (1) banded, Red crossbill-4-22 too numerous toPierre, BJR; 5-17 (2), 5-31 Rapid City count, higher Black Hills, 5-16 (15),BHAS. Rapid City.
Scarlet Tanager-5-15 (1) Vermillion Rufous-sided Towhee-4-14 throughKJH; 5-21 (1) Hyde Co. JH. 4-26 arrival dates over state.
SPARROWS AND FINCHES Lark Bunting-5-4 through 5-9 arri-Cardinal-4-1 (1) Vermillion KJH; val over middle and western South Da-
4-1 (1) Pierre BJR; (one pair) almost kota; 5-7 (35) males bunched on fences,every day during April and May, Yank- Ziebach County EMS; 5-18 (200) Rapidton WH; calling male, Deuel County City, TM.BKH. Savannah Sparrow-4-30 specimen,
Rose-breasted G r 0 s b e a k-5-4 (4) Hand County NRW; 4-25 (1) CusterMadison RB; 5-5 (1) Vermillion KJH; County; 5-18 (1) Rapid City TM; 5-55-10 (2) Pierre; 5-10 (1) through 5-17 (1) Dewey County WH; 4-30 Pierre; 4-Hyde County JH; 5-10 (1) Aberdeen; 22 (2) Hyde County; 4-29 Aberdeen.5-8 (3), 5-12 (5),5-13 (4), 5-15 (2),5-17 Grasshopper Sparrow-5-12 (1) Rapid(1) Yankton, WH, BJR; 5-12 (8) eating City, 5-28 Cottonwood NRW; 5-19 Hydecorn and seed, total (16) in two days, County, 5-16 Aberdeen.Huron, "never seen so many in 30 Baird's Sparrow-5-16 (1) Philip,years." JWJ; 5-13 (4), 5-18 (1), 5-20 Haakon County singing BJR; 5-28 Aber.
40 SOUTH DAKOTA BIRD NOT~
deen; 4-12 Cresbard HWW. Fox Sparrow-5-4 (1) CampbellVesper Sparrow-4-16 singles 5-18 County WHo
(7) to singles at end of period, Rapid Lincoln's Sparrow-4-15 through 5-15City; 4-16 Aberdeen; 4-30 Pierre. arrival at all points over state..
Lark Sparrow-4-30 Pierre; 5-4 (six Song Sparrow-4-8 through 5-19to 10) to 5-20 (60) Cheyenne River, from all points over state; 4-19 (29),Wasta, BHAS; 5-19 (1) Hyde County; 4-24 (12) Rapid City BG.5-31 (1) Strandburg, Grant County Lapland Longspur-4-28 (1) Vermil.RRJ. lion KJH.
White.winged J u n c 0 -4.16 few Chestnut-collared Lon g s p u r-4-24through 5-12, Rapid City. through 5-14 Rapid City; 4-27 Pierre,
Oregon Junc0-4-6 through 4-22 few, 4-6 (many) Hyde County; 4-19 (3) Wau-Rapid City. bay RRJ.
Slate.colored Junc0-4-1 through 4-14 REPORTERSconcentration, Rapid City NRW; 4-8 Black Hills Audubon Society, Rapid(12), 4-12 (15), 4-13 (70) in two flocks, City, BHAS; L. M. Baylor LMB; Don4-14 (30), 4-19 (10), 4-23 (6) Hyde Adolphson DA; Gertrude R. BachmannCounty JH; few at Cresbard, Pierre, GRB; Bonnie Green BG; Doris Knechtand Yankton. DK; Tom Hays TH; Rachel C. Katter-
Tree Sparrow-Few to 5-13 Rapid john RCK; Esther M. Serr EMS; Eliza.City; 4.7 (7) Yankton, 4-7 (20) to 4-12 beth A. Southmayd EAS; Robert E.(100) down to 4-20 Hyde County JH. Stephens RES; N. R. Whitney NRW;
Chipping Sparrow-4-12 Aberdeen, 4. Clara Yarger CY; Barney Nordstrom,25 (100) to 5-8 too numerous to count Fairburn, BN.down to 5-11 (50) Rapid City; 4-25 Bruce K. Harris, State GF&P, Deuel,small flocks, Pierre; none at Cresbro.d Roberts Counties, Clear Lake, S. Dak.(unusual); 5-10 (75) Hyde County; BKH.small flocks, Waubay, Madison and B. J. Rose, State GF&P, 1108 NorthYankton. Huron, Pierre, S. Dak. BJR.
Clay-colored Sparrow-4.27 (few) J. W. Johnson, 1421 Utah Southeast,through 5-9 too numerous to count until Huron, S. Dak. JWJ.5-19, Rapid City; 4-30 many, Pierre; June Harter, Highmore, Hyde Coun-smaller flocks Cresbard, Aberdeen ty, S. Dak. JH.Hyde County, Waubay, Yankton and Dr. Harold W. Wager, Cresbard,Dewey County. Faulk County, S. Dak. HWW.
Field Sparrow-4-21 Pierre; 4-26 Ab- Irma Weyler, "The Daily Post," Belleerdeen. Fourche, Butte County, S. Dak. IW.
Harris' Sparrow-4-23 last date for Willis Hall, 1111 Douglas Avenue,(1) that stayed all winter in Rapid Yankton, Yankton County, S. Dak. WHoCity EAS; 4-7 through 5-16 arrival over Gavin's Point Dam and Lewis and Clarkstate; 5-5 (10), 5-6 (15), 5-8 (20), 5.10 Lake, Yankton and Bon Homme Coun-(30) to 5-14 (15) Hyde County; few at ties.most other points. Mrs. Carol Breen, Hurley, Turner
White.crowned Sparrow-4-11 County, S. Dak. CB.through 5-16 arrival over state; 5-4 Robert Breen, Madison, Lake County,(40) to 5-13 too numerous to count, Ra- S.. Dak. RB.pid City; 5-5 (17) Mobridge WH; 5-10 Susan Eberly, Vermillion, Clay Coun-Belle Fourche IW. ty, S. Dak. SE.
White-throated Sparrow-4-17 through Karolyn J. Hoover, Vermillion, Clay5-16 arrival all points in state. (Continued on Page 48)
JUNE, 1972 41
v I
~
~O'I N DIes D f Spec; 0'1 1 n ~HOARY REDPOLLS AT WAUBAY I went with Jim to the area on MarchREFUGE-During the past two winters 27, 1972, when we found a newly start-Hoary Redpolls were occasionally seen ed nest 30 feet above the ground in theat the refuge feeding station. Our first crotch of a forked pine. The sticks wereobservation occurred on March 20, pine branches with usnea on them. The1971; the second on March 6, 1972. sticks were stacked about one footBoth sightings were of single birds in deep. The pine was on a north expo-small flocks of Common Redpolls. In sure and was marked for cutting. Weboth instances the birds were observed did not see the hawk during the morn-with 7x35 binoculars from a distance ing. We removed the marking paintof 20 feet and identification confirmed from the tree and discussed the situa-by other members of the refuge staff. tion with the timber contractor. He said-Robert R. Johnson, Refuge Manager he would keep his operation out of the
* * * * small pocket and try not to disturb theSOUTHERN BLACK HILLS OBSERV A- nesting are a.-Fred Wild, CusterTIONS-Feb. 7, 1972, Stone Quarry * * * *Canyon, 12 Pinon Jays and two Hairy RUFFED GROUSE AT GRIZZLYWoodpeckers; Feb. 8, 1972, Cascade CREEK, BLACK HILLS-When ICreek, three Robins; Feb. 15, 1972, heard the distant drumming, I walkedMiddle Nugget, five Turkeys; Skull rapidly toward the sound, thinking itGulch, four Golden Eagles feeding on was some distance away. I stepped intoa dead fawn and one mature Bald Eagle a small opening at the edge of aspenfeeding on a dead fawn; Feb. 26, 1972, to see an indignant ruffed grouse walk-Horse Creek, 42 Crows; Feb. 9, 1972, ing away from me. I quickly turnedPleasant Valley (south of Custer), three and walked away from the area. AfterMountain Bluebirds. Red Crossbills, 20 minutes, he resumed drumming. ThisBlack-capped Chickadees and Red. time I dropped to my stomach andbreasted Nuthatches were present dur- crawled through the pine needles. Iing the winter on Deer Mountain, Elk moved only when he drummed.Mountain and Cicero Peak.-Fred Wild, When I spotted him, I kept a stumpCuster between myself and him until I was
* * * * within 20 feet of the drum log. He hadGOSHAWK NEST IN BLACK HILLS- chosen a 16-inch pitch pine log 30 feetOn March 21, 1972, Jim Furnish was in length for the performance. The logadministering a timber sale on the Ne. was the largest and most solid of sev-mo District south of Middle Boxelder eral available. The opening created byCreek when a Goshawk passed near his the fallen log was approximately one-head. The bird came within five feet eighth acre with aspen and spruce inof Jim who took cover behind a tree. the vicinity.His description of the large pronounced When perched on the log, he drum-eye stripe identified the bird as a Gos- med at three to six-minute intervals.hawk. The bird perched approximately Wings beat slowly up to a dozen times50 feet from him and gave several dis- before developing the crescendo. At thetress calls. climax of the drumming, it seemed
42 SOUTH DAKOTA BffiD NOTES
_f'
)
reasonable that he would be in flight, are 19 other South Dakota records foryet he remained on the log with feet the species, most of them being killrelaxed. records.
.No fema!e was present and the male On Oct. 25, I was driving along thedId not dIsplay a fan. Neck feathers trail that borders Lake Alice on thewere extended, appearing as miniature south and east when an immature sco-
.'horns on each sIde of the neck. Once ter was spotted swimming quite closehe appeared tired of drumming and to shore with a mixed group of water-jumped from the log to peck and fowl. I stalked the bird carefully butscratch at kinnikinick. He returned, it was out of range for me when i gotalways facing the sun and body at right down to the shore. But it did fly off aangle to the log.. short distance, and I saw the wing pat-
I watched for 45 mmutes and then tern distinctly-there was no white,- 7eturned the way I had entered, leav- wing bar, and this, with the two white
mg the grouse and his stage undisturb. face patches identified it as a Surfed.-Fred Wild, Custer Scoter, a sp~cies for which we have
If hon your ot er South Dakota records.UNUSUAL NUMBERS OF SCOTERS The bird appeared to be crippled inI N DEUEL COUNTY-SPECIMEN one wing.FOR SURF SCOTER-During October, Moving along the east side of the1971 I observed scoters in Deuel Coun- lake to a point about three-fourths milety on three separate dates: Oct. 17, Oct. north of the location where I had ob-25 and Oct. 27. There were at least five, served the crippled scoter, I was quiteand possibly nine individuals involved surprised to find another scoter. Condi-in these sightings. All birds were im- tions were ideal for stalking, withmatures or females. plenty of cover and only a slight breeze.
On Oct. 17 I found four scoters I was able to take the bird quite easi-swimming in rough water on the east ly, noting with a good deal of satisfac-side of Lake Alice, located two miles tion that it was also a Surf Scoter-east of Tunerville. The birds were bob- again an immature or female. So therebing about more than 200 yards from were at least two Surf Scoters on Lakeshore, but with the 15 power spotting Alice on this date. I wondered if theyscope I could easily identify them as were part of the group of four birdsscoters, and was also able to make out observed on Oct. 17.the two white patches on the side of On Oct. 27 I drove down to the norththe head, thus eliminating the possibili- shore of Lake Alice on a chilly, veryty that they were American Scoters. foggy morning, with little wind stirringAlthough the birds were observed for the water. There I was amazed to findsome time with the spotting scope, I a group of three scoters rather closecould not see a white wing patch on in to shore. These birds were also inany of the birds, and they continued immature plumage. They flew off intomoving away from me all the time they the fog before I could get out to ob.were observed. Knowing that the white serve them with binoculars, and I havewing patch is not always discernible no idea whether they had the whiteeven under good conditions, I assumed wing bar or not. But it appeared bythat the birds were most likely White- now that there were at least five indi-winged Scoters, the species most often vidual scoters on Lake Alice, with aseen in South Dakota. I had observed good possibility that nine birds hada fine male White-winged Scoter at been present. It was interesting toLake Alice on May 1, 1971, and there read in "American Birds" (formerly
JUNE, 1972 43
:I
"Audubon Field Notes") vol. 26:78 that actions indicated a mate or nest wasSurf Scoters were observed in Alberta nearby, we could find no nest. But sonduring October of 1971, and the first Mark came up with a Sora Rail nesttwo specimens for North Dakota were containing nine eggs, so the time wasalso taken during October, 1971. Nelda weil spent.Holden drove up to Lake Alice with On June 18 a bird flushed out aheadme in the afternoon, as I hoped to have of me on the Crystal Springs Publicanother observer see the scoters. But, Shooting Area, an area just one mileas often happens, the weather had west of the location described above.turned very mean, with cold, strong This bird went into a definite "crippledwinds and threatening snow. We could wing" act, with ail the vocalizationsnot drive around the muddy roads, and one might expect, but again I couldfound no scoters. It was the beginning locate neither nest nor young. Moreof a widespread storm that moved many puzzling was the fact that I had neverbirds south. heard nor seen snipe at this particular
Lake Alice is a large, shallow lake, locality, although I had gone to theabout two miles long and nearly one- area on two occasions to listen forhalf mile wide. It attracts a large varie- snipe, and had visited the area repeat-ty of waterfowl during spring and fail edly during the months of May andmigrations, and is especially good for June, as there is a smail fish rearingreadhead, canvasback and other divers, pond on this public shooting area andas well as for geese.-Bruce Harris, AI- the snipe first flushed from the edgetamont of the rearing pond, which had been
flooded only 10 days previous! I canBREEDING SEASON DISTRIBUTION only guess that a female had movedFOR THE COMMON SNIPE IN DEUEL into the area immediately after theCOUNTY-Snipe are rather common pond was drained, and had establishedduring the breeding season in Deuel a nest-possibly a second nesting at-County, and undoubtedly nest in the tempt.area, although I have been unable to The 1971 records tend to confirmpin down a definite breeding record. my observations in other counties (seeIn 1971 I located at least eight "win- vol. 1 28:52) regarding the distributionnowing" male snipe in eight widely of snipe during the breeding season inseparat~d localities in Deuel County. South Dakota. I am sure that furtherThe first courting male was heard on investigations will show that snipe oc-May 9, with display still occurring on cur throughout the northeastern coun-August 20. It's possible that 1971 was ties, and probably in all counties bor-particularly favorable in Deuel County, dering North Dakota. Although thebut I suspect that the birds are here courtship display, or winnowing, is aeach year, and in the same numbers, distinct bird call that cimnot be missedas the habitat is ideal, according to once one is familiar with it, the birdaccounts in the literature. This can be could be quite easily overlooked on itschecked during the summer of 1972. breeding grounds because the "song"
On June 6 my two boys assisted me is of such unusual quality. The bestin searching for a nest around a small description 1 have found is in Bent'swetland near the Crystal Springs "Life Histories of North AmericanRanch, where I had heard a winnowing Shore Birds" (vol. 2, p. 82-83). Hesnipe regularly. Although we flushed writes "All through the spring migra-a snipe from the area on three occa- tion and all through the nesting sea-sions during the search period, and its son we may hear the weird winnowing
44 SOUTH DAKOTA BIRD NOTFS
~
sound of the snipe's courtship flight, a side streaks distinguish this speciestremulous humming sound, loud and from the Grasshopper sparrow. Mark-penetrating, audible at a long distance. ings on the side of the head were quiteOne is both thrilled and puzzled when bright, but I did not note a reallyhe hears it the first time, for it seems bright line over the eye, and no pink-like a disembodied sound, the sighing ish coloring could be seen on the nape,of some wandering spirit, until the this latter mark being one of the strongauthor is discovered a mere speck, points of identification for the species.S\'leeping across the sky." However, it seems likely that if the
One intel-esting thing that was noted birds were young of the year the napein Deuel County was that grazing, and markings might be pale enough to bepossibly overgrazing, does not discour- overlooked. My attempts to collect theage snipe from using their preferred birds wcre not successful., not havingh!toitat niche during the breeding sea. the proper gun and shot size with meson. All locations where snipe were at the time.found, with one exception, were sub- This species is one I have beenjected t.J cattle grazing. Two localities wanting to see for many years, and ithad been rather obviously overgrazed, was particularly satisfying to find it ~obut snipe were flushed from the "hum- easily cbserved. LeConte's sparrowmocky" ..vctlands which the birds evi- probably nests in the northeasterndently requu'e, or at least prefer, for counties, and very likely along manytheir nest sites. If grazing does not of the counties bordering North Dako-l!mit the nesting of these birds it ta. It probably has been overlooked,would be one of the very few cases on as in the case of Baird's sparrow,record, fOi, generally speaking, live- which has recently been found in astock grazing is detrimental to the nest- number of locations in South Dakota.il1g activities of most birds.-Bruce Two summer records by James JohnsonHarris, Altamont and reported nesting in Day County by
* * * * Carl Johnson are the only records wehave available in recent years. There is
DEUEL COUNTY NOTES-LECONTE one definite nest record that datesSPARROW AT LAKE ALICE-On Oct. back to 1890. SDOU members should6, 1971 two, and possibly three, LeCon- make a special effort to find LeContete Sparrows were observed at Lake and Sharp-tailed sparrows during fieldAlice, Deuel County. The birds were trips.-Bruce Harris, Altamontfound in a small marsh that is located * * * *on the Game Production Area on theeast side of the lake. They were quite NOTES ON THE WHITE-EYED VIREOactive, moving about and calling often. -I received my December, 1971, issueI was surprised to find them so tame of South Dakota Bird Notes a coupleand easily observed, for I watched of days ago, and one item was of par-them for more than 10 minutes at dis- ticular interest to me. I am referringtances up to 15 yards, with binoculars. to the article on page 102 by Ronald
As this was the first time I had been R. Nelson, entitled, "White-eyed Vireoable to identify this species, special in Eastern South Dakota."attention was taken to observe all field The Editor's Note states that this ismarks. I noted the whitish line through the first reported observation in thethe center of the head, the buffy state. The White-eyed Vireo soundedbreast, heavily streaked back, and the familiar, so I checked my bird file andvery li~ht streaks along the sides. The found an entry showing I had seen the
JUNE, 1972 45
bird on May 1, 1965. Let me explain the small patch of tr~es on the James Rivercircumstances of this observation: along Highway 46 north of Yankton, S.
Dale Gunderson, a classmate, and I Dak. We saw what we thought was awere gathering information for a paper Western Meadowlark sitting high in awe were writing for an ecology class tree. Then it sang. Never having heardunder Dr. Rogers, at Augustana Col- an Eastern Meadowlark, I wrote in mylege, Sioux Falls. note pad: "Voice-similar to oriole or
At 6 a.m. on May 1, 1965, Dale and cardinal and ending with a note similarI went out to our study area northeast to Western Meadowlark. More musicalof Sioux Falls. (This is east of the Cac- than Western-slower and lower pitch-tus Hills area Ronald Nelson mention- ed." 1 al50 found this in my notes: "ed in his Vireo observation.) 'V' on breast looked wider."
Dale went to the northern end and On May 26, 1968, we watched andI stayed in the southern end of the listened to an Eastern Meadowlark atarea to observe and record birds seen. Tongonoxie State Lake in Kansas andWhile there, I identified three White- at that time realized that the Meadow-eyed Vireos. I remember the first bird lark we had seen in South Dakota hadI saw very vividly. Most of the trees been an Eastern Meadowlark.-Delberthad just been cut in the area and were A. Nelson, Lander, Wyo.lying on the ground. I stopped and sat * ..*quietly on a fallen tree and a small BANDING WOOD THRUSHES-Check-bird worked its way toward me in the ing our records we find that we bandeduppermost branches of the fallen trees. wood thrushes in South Dakota as fol-It came to within 15 to 20 feet of me. lows: at Farm Island, May 16, 1964,It showed very little fear of me and May 22, 1965, Sept. 4, 1965 (2), July 19,remained near me for about 10 minutes 1966 and May 25, 1969; in Newtonbefore it worked its way to the north Hills, Aug. 28, 1970.of my position. Using my "Field Guide We also banded one wood thrush atto the Birds" by Roger Tory Peterson, Niobrara, Nebr. which is just acrossand my 7x50 binoculars, I identified the Missouri River from South Dakotathis bird as a White-eyed Vireo. AI- on Aug. 14, 1964.though the wingbars and the yellow We have seen and heard wood"spectacles" were very apparent, the thrushes in the Newton Hills on severalwhite eye was the marking that most occasions but unfortunately do notconvinced me that it was a White-eyed have the date records.-Gladyce andVireo. (I saw the other two birds short- Charles Rogge, Sioux Fallsly after that.) I went to get Dale to .* ..substantiate my find, but when we re- AN AMERICAN EGRET-The fifthturned, the birds were nowhere to be grade class of the Deubrook Elemen-found. (We recorded the Vireo in our tary School, Toronto, S. Dak., was in-ecology paper. If you wish to see this volved in an "Outdoor Educationreport, Dr. Rodgers, at Augustana Col- Classroom" project at Oakwood Lakeslege, may still have this report on file. State Park this spring. The project in-If he does not, I have a copy of the volved camping overnight and partici-paper.)-Delbert A. Nelson, Lander, pating in a number of out-of-door pro-Wyo. jects, one of which was bird-watching.
The first group of six students andEASTERN MEADOWLARK ALONG two adult chaperones had the oppor-JAMES RIVER-On April 23, 1966, my tunity of sighting an American Egret'wile, Doris, and I were birding in a on Sunday evening, May 14, 1972, on
46 SOUTH DAKOTA BIRD NOTES
1%,
the east side of Boy Scout Island within we felt that corroboration was neces-the boundaries of the state park. The sary in this sighting due to the raritymajestic white bird was found in a of the bird. The bird was describedmarshy area and flew off after it was to Bruce Harris and Mr. and Mrs. Char-sighted. Everyone was equipped with les Rogge and they confirmed ourcameras, but each person stood with opinion. There certainly was no doubtmouth open and watched the Egret fly as to the beauty of the bird.-Arlo J.off! Levisen, Elementary principal, Deu-
Being amateur bird-watchers at best, brook School System, Toronto, S. Dak.
(
Snowy Owl Sighting -Region II
Winter 1971-1972DATE LOCATION
Nov. 11, 1971 Two miles south of Lowry, S. Dak.Nov. 26, 1971 Six miles east and three miles north of Lowry, S. Dak.Jan. 8, 1972 At Glenham, S. Dak.Jan. 16, 1972 Two miles north of Selby, S. Dak.Jan. 20, 1972 Five miles south of Hoven, S. Dak.Jan. 20, 1972 Four miles north and five miles east of Miranda, S. Dak.Jan. 20, 1972 Four miles north and four miles east of Cresbard, S. Dak.Mar. 28, 1972 One mile east of Norbeck, S. Dak.
-Warren Jackson, Box 387, Mobridge
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION:
Shorebirds Recapture OperationSeveral species of shorebirds will be marked with yellow feather
dye on the underparts, and yellow streamers attached to the leg, inthe 1972 fall migration. Sanderlings will be marke<;i only with legstreamers. Birds will be caught on the Magdalen Islands (Gulf of St.Lawrence).
Reports of sight records should include the locality, date, species,name and address of observer(s). Please weigh the bird and read theband number if taken alive.
Information should be sent to:Raymond McNeilCentre de Recherches Ecologiques de Montreal4101 est, rue SherbrookeMontreal 406, Que, Canada
JUNE. 1972 47
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--
Notes from Sparks' Mini-Ranch
FLOODs, ice in the rain gauge in late of the paper on a sheet of thin alumi-June, iris, rhubarb and strawber- num ready for the press.
ries all frozen, a furnace fire July Some day I'll visit Webster wherenights, this has indeed been a most un- Larry Ingalls prints "Bird Notes."usual year. One Sunday in June a flash of bright
Rather than the slow, gentle rains of red and yellow caught our eyes in thepast summers, this year moisture has chokecherry bushes and we found, bycome in short, vicious deluges, a most consulting our "Field Guide," that wepeculiar summer. had a Western Tanager. It flitted about
In spite of all this the forlorn stems long enough for two of us to identifyof the frozen petunias have sent out it. We have also had a number of blue-new leaves and finally blossoms and birds in our trees.
the shorn tomato plants have found If you see a picture of a Giant Pandanew life within their blackened stems you may be looking at the symbol for
the World Wildlife Fund, WWF. Found-and formed new leaves. ed in 1961 this conservation organiza-
This will be the first issue of "Bird tion has supported more than 300 na.Notes" printed by the offset process. tional and international projects to saveStrange I didn't know this until today endangered species. Often this support
: ...' takes the form of helping save theiryet whIle on vacatIon m Mmnesota I habitat the reserves wetlands andvisited the newspaper plant where I forests' around the w~rld which offerheld my first job and was given a tour refuge and breeding grounds. For moreof their new offset plant. The entire information, write World Wildlifeprocedure is revolutionary. In this plant ~und, 910 17th Street Northwest, Wash-
mgton, D.C. 20006.four men now do the work formerly re-quiring 12 and the run off for a circula- That's "30" for now.
* * * *tion of 5000 takes only 20 minutes foreach section.
I watched two girls type on over-sized Spring Migrationtypewriters which produced punched (Continued from Page 41)tapes. They could ignore word divisions County, S. Dak. KJH.and lines but needed to indicate para- Larry R. Lynch, 502 South Firstgraphs. Then the tape was inserted into Street, Aberdeen, Brown County, S.a computer wl1ich turned out properly Dak. LRL.spaced copy (I didn't ask about the Waubay NWR, Day County, S. Dak.:spelling). Proofed, the galleys were Robert R. Johnson, Manager RRJ; Benpasted up on glass tables, lit from be- L. Gastineau, BLG; Edmund J. From-low and then the entire page photo- elt EJF.graphed. The final result was each page -Esther Serr
48 SOUTH DAKOTA BffiD NOTFAS
SOUTH D AK OT A BIRD NOTES
Official Publication
of
SOUTH DAKOTA ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION
(Organized 1949)"
Vol XXIV. No.3 SEPTEMBER. 1972 Whole No. 94
Short-eared Owl-Photo by Roger R. Kerbs
South Dakota Bird Notes, the Organ of South Dakota Ornithologists' Union, is sent toall members whose dues are paid for the current year. Sustaining Members $10.00,Adults $4.00; Juniors (10-16) $200. Family Membership (husband and wife) with onesubscription to Bird Notes $6.00. Libraries (subscription) $4.00. Single and backcopies: Members $1.00, Non-members $1.50. All dues should be remitted to theTreasurer, Nelda Holden, Route 1, Box SO, Brookings, S. Dak. 57006. All manuscriptsfor publication should be sent to Co-Editor Don Adolphson, 2604 Arrowhead Drive,Rapid City, S. Dak. 57701. Orders for back numbers should be sent to the Librarian,Herman P. Chilson, Webster, S. Dak. 57274. Published Quarterly.
Vol. XXIV, No.3 September, 1972 Whole No. 94
In This Number. ..
President's Page, Byron Harrell 51South Dakota Nesting Season, June 1 through August 15, 1972,
Compiled by Esther Serr 52Pesticides and Predatory Birds, Michael Moore 62Bobolinks, Some Recent Black Hills Observations, N. R. Whitney 64Bird Nesting Around St. Martin's Academy, Sister Georgine Essert 65A Calendar for West-River Bird Study, N. R. Whitney 66Book Review, J. W. Johnson 67World of Birds, Bronx Zoo, photo by Bill Meng 68General Notes of Special Interest: Fatigued Warbler, Naive Young
Bluebird, NRW's Field Note Procedure, Cattle Egret in FaulkCounty, Letter from Mrs. Drissen 69
Notes from Sparks' Mini-Ranch 71Two Resignations 72
OFFICERS 1971-72
President Byron Harrell, 1215 Valley View Circle, Vermillion 57069Vice. President Bruce Harris, Clear Lake 57266Secretary June Harter, Highmore 57345Membership Chairman Jean Russell, 427 South Ree, Apt. 2, Pierre 57501Treasurer Nelda Holden, Rt. 1, Box 80, Brookings 57006Liais~n Chairman Jean Russell, 427 South Ree, Apt. 2, Pierre 57501Co-ed~tor Winona Sparks, Nemo 57759C~-edl~or Don Adolphson, 2604 Arrowhead Drive, Rapid City 57701LIbrarIan Herman P. Chilson, Webster 57274
DIRECTORS
For Term Expiring 1972: Byron Harrell, Vermillion; J. W. Johnson, Huron; Herbert Krause,Sioux Falls; B. J. Rose, Rapid City; June Harter, Highmore.
For Term Expiring 1973: Keith Evans, Rapid City; Charles Rogge, Sioux Falls; DonAdolphson, Rapid City; Nelda Holden, Brookings; Lee Eberly, Vermillion.
For Term Expiring 1974: Herman Chilson, Webster; Will Rosine, Sioux Falls; Bruce Harris,Woonsocket; N. R. Whitney Jr., Rapid City; L. M. Baylor, Rapid City.
50 SOUTH DAKOTA BI RD NOTES
IL_-
L President's Ptlge ~I AM writing this shortly after receiv- and accuracy and also one of careful
ing the preliminary program for our next objectivity.S.D.O.U. meeting. Our friends atBrookings have prepared an interesting Many ornithological observationspaper session. Earlier I mentioned that occur when a person is off by himself andthese meetings are valued by those that what he sees may be missed by others orattend; however, the same amount of may happen so quickly that otherswork can also serve a larger attendance. present may still. not see them. TheOn these pages I've brought up a number necessity for carefulness in obvious inof ideas, and I hope at this meeting to get these circumstances. Accurate recordinga litije "feedback." The officers and the and reporting of the observations caneditors are scattered over a wide hardly be overstressed. These are not
territory, and between necessarily second nature to good, honestmeetings anyone of us individuals; they are attitudes that mustprobably see less than be developed and to be constantly strived10 percent of the for. I would like especially to stress heremembership. We the development of the quality of beingappreciate seeing the objective in one's observations. We havemembers and hearing probably all had fun on a good day seeingof their concern and how many kinds of birds we could locate.ideas. We are a In our spring or summer meetings wevoluntary organization may all enjoy reporting the find of awhose existence species that no one else has found. Suchreally is its mem- good natured competition may con-
bership. Our meetings are times to renew tribute by encouraging effort in coveringand promote our working together. the countryside. When the level of en-
I would also like to comment on thusiasm surpasses the objectivity of theanother subject in this column. Or- observer, we have trouble. A person maynithology is perhaps the science that has honestly believe that he saw somethe largest percentage of amateur characteristic that he actually did nQt.practitioners. This is so for a number of The desire to see something may over-reasons, one being the numerous gooa come one's visual system. I recall somebooks that are written in a lan- beginning students of mine examining aguage that does not require specialized mislabled Cedar Waxwing almost con-background. The interested person in his vincing themselves that the almost whitespare time can educate himself to a undertail coverts were red! The editor'ssignificant level of competency at least in job becomes very difficult when thepart of the field. The amateur can have challenge of an observation is regardedthe pleasure inherent in a hobby or as an attack upon the observer's in-sport but also can have the pleasure of tegrity. I know of no easy answer to thismaking an addition to the body of type of situation. Ornithologicalscience. Reading and study of pertinent knowledge can benefit from the work ofbooks are not alone sufficient in order to the many enthusiastic amateurs, but ifmake a scientific contribution. Of equal much of it is not of high quality, all of itimportance is an attitude of carefulness may be rejected.-Byron E. Harrell
SEPTEMBER,1972 51
II
,
I
South Dakota Nesting Season
June 1 through August 15, 1972Compiled by Esther Serr
REPORTERS BREEDING BIRD SURVEYSBlack Hills Audubon Society, Rapid 1. 6-27-East of Ottumwa to east of
City-Don Adolphson, DA; Gertrude R. Phillip, Haakon Co. BJR.Bachman GRB; Harry Behrens HB; Bob 2. 7-24-Promise Day School throughand Doris Knecht BK DK; Bonnie Green White Horse along Moreau River, DeweyBG; Rachel Katterjohn RK; Tom Hays Co. BJR.TH; G. L. DeFord DeF; Esther M. Serr, 3.-East of Laplant to Parade, Dewey515-8th St. EMS; Elizabeth A. Southmayd Co. BJR.EAS; Robert E. Stephens RES; N. R. 4. 6-25-Jackson Co. south of Cot-Whitney NRW; Clara Yargar CY. tonwood to Cactus Flats, NRW.
Conrad A. Fjetland, Lacreek NWR, 5. 6-28-Roubaix Lake, Highway 385,Martin, Bennett Co. CAF. Rimrock Highway, Black Hills, Pen-
Barney Nordstrom, Fairburn, Custer nington Co. NRW.Co. BN. 6. 6-26-White Lake, Interstate 90,
Alfred and Gertrude Hinds, Prairie south to Aurora Center, Aurora Co. WHoCity, southern Perkins Co. AH. 7. Volga, Brookings Co., south into
B. J. Rose, State GF&P, 1108 N. Huron, Moody Co. NH.Pierre BJR. 8. Howard, Miner and Lake COSo NH.
Willis and Rosamond Hall, 1111 9. Roswell, Miner and Lake Coso NH.Doublas Ave., Yankton Co., Yankton GEOGRAPHICAL REFERENCESWHo SDOU Spring meeting, Mobridge, 6-3
J. W. Johnson, Highmore, Hyde Co. and 6-4 covering Corson, Dewey, Camp-JH. t? bell and Walworth Counties-mainly
Richard C. Rosche, Regional Editor, nesting activity used from personalNew York and northwestern Penn- records.sylvania, Box 693, Bernardsville, New Hiddenwood State Park, Walworth Co.Jersey RCR. Lake Molstad, Walworth Co.
Waubay NWR, Waubay, S. Dak., Day Sand Lake, Campbell Co.Co.: Compiler, Robert R. Johnson, RRJ, Lake Pocasse, Campbell Co.Kent F. Hall KFH, Edmund J. Fromelt Roubaix Lake, Black Hills, LawrenceEJF. Co.
Rev. H. W. Wager, Box 27, Cresbard, Seavey's Lake, Meade Co.Faulk Co. HWW. Lake Marindahl, Mission Hill, Yankton
Bruce K. Harris, State GF&P, Deuel Co.Co., Clear Lake, BKH; Gordon Harris Lake Mitchell, Hyde Co.GH; Bertin Anderson BA. Lacreek NWR, Bennett Co.
Irma Weyler, "The Daily Post," Belle Oahe Reservoir and Dam, MissouriFourche, Butte Co. IW. River, Pierre, S. Dak.
Nelda and David Holden, Brookings, Lewis and Clark Lake (L & C) andBrookings Co. NH. Gavin's Point Dam, Yankton and Bon
Harold A. Kantrud, Northern Prairie Homme Counties.Wildlife Research Center, Jamestown, Lake Sharp, Missouri River.N. Dak., Roscoe, Edmunds Co., HAK. Rosebud Indian Reservation, Todd Co.
52 SOUTH DAKOTA 61 RD NOTES
Rapid Canyon and Dark Canyon, -SPECIES--Canyon Lake in floodplain of Rapid .-LOONS. GREBES, PELICANS,Creek, Rapid City. CORMORANTS, HERONS
Common Loon-7-18, 7-22 (1) immatureplumage above Oahe Dam BJR.
MISCELLANEOUS Red-necked Grebe-7-4 (1) apparentlyTom Hays, Black Hills State College nesting-nest destroyed by wind by 7-
and Gillette, Wyoming, received a five lQ-not able to check nest, Deuel BKH.month's banding permit, July, 1972, to be Horned Grebe-Present Waubay
-used under the direction of N. R. Whit- NWR.ney. Eared Grebe-6-1 (2 pair) Garden City,
Glark Co. BKH; 6-18 through 7-13 (18) onehabitat, Hyde Co. JH; Waubay; 6-3 (4)
WEATHER Sand Lake, in courtship NRW; 100 youngThe entire state was wet and cold- produced, Lacreek CAF; 30 nests, 7-12
exceptionally so. Water levels were (75 to 100 young) on 100 acre pond,higher so that some nests were destroyed Roscoe, Edmunds Co. HAK.and areas so soggy they couldn't be Western Grebe-6-18 (1) Hyde Co.;traveled. Waubay; 6-3 (25 plus) courting, nests in
A flood, caused by 10 to 12 inches of reeljs-water too deep to reach nests withrain some 10 miles west of Rapid City, waders, Sand Lake BKH; 6-25 (11)was most devastating to human life and Lacreek RCR; 7-4 (50 pair) Round Lake,property. The same must have been true lesser numbers at School, Alice, Coteau,for the birds and their nests since it was Fish and Fox Lakes, Deuel BKH.the peak of the nesting season. All brush Pied-biUe!i Grebe-6-18 (1) Hyde Co.;in a floodplain of some 3,000 acres 6-15 through 6-27 (4) broods of 22 young,through the center of the city was torn Waubay; 100 young, Lacreek, CAF.out by water or bulldozers. Canyon Lake White Pelican-6-18 (1) Hyde Co.; 6-25Dam broke from much debris piled (400) Lacreek RCR; 838 produced,against it. Mallards nested below this ground check of colony, Lacreek, CAF.da~, but many ~ucks of all sizes were WANS GEESE AND DUCKSbeIng fed by residents after the flood. S , .Red-winged Blackbirds had to have (All duck production based on pairsuffered much loss. Many trees fell, and counts conducted in late May and broodhigher nests in trees could have been torn counts conducted in late July. Timing ofout by debris. Chipping Sparrows the hatch coordinated by broodgenerally nest low in conifers. The force chronology counts. Lacreek NRWand amount of rain could easily have (CAF).washed down the eggs of the Common (Heavy rains in April and May delayedNighthawk off the hilly rock beds. The farming operations that resulted inWhite-winged Junco nesting at higher unusually high nest success amongaltitude under over-hangs must have species nesting in ~mall grain stubblebeen flooded. Observers, who live above fields, Roscoe, Edm,unds Co. HAK.)the floodplain, noted many more birds Trumpeter Swan-6-25 (5) Lacreekafter the flood-both adult and young. RCR; 8 young out of 3 broods on refuge,
Nest records for seven years show 100 20 young off refuge, Lacreek CAF.nesting species mainly in western South Greater Canada Goose-6-25 (25)Dakota. Others are known to nest but no Lacreek RCR; 331 hatched, 250 producednests found-just the fledglings appear. to flight, Lacreek CAF.It can be assumed there was much loss to MaUard-7-12 nest with 7 eggs underbirdlife. wild spirea on high hill, many nests alongSEPTEMBER,1972 53
Rapid Creek after break in Canyon Lake Ruddy Duck-(6) pair, in one habitat,Dam NRW; 6-15 (2) nests destroyed, Hyde Co. JH; 6-4 (50 plus) Sand Lake,otherwise, good hatch, Perkins AH; 6-27 courtship display NRW; 6-26 (1) Aurorafemale with brood of 5 downy young, WH;7-12firstbrood,total,IObroodswithStockade Lake, Custer Co. RCR; (48) 47 young, Waubay; 108 produced toRoswell route, large increase NH; 1518 flight, Lacreek, CAF; 7 nests, first dateproduced to flight, Lacreek CAF; 27 7-10 (7) eggs), 6 out of 7 nests, hatched,nests, first date 5-5, (9) eggs, 14 out of 27 Roscoe, HAK.nests hatched, Roscoe HAK. Ring-necked Duck-Broods of 9, 9, and
Gadwell-6-26 (1) Auroura Co.; 7-13 6 young near Bullhead Lake 7-14. Thesefirst brood out, total (27) broods with 185 with last year's data, definitelyyoung, Waubay RRJ; Roswell route (1) established species in Deuel Co. BKH.NH; 1386 produced to flight, LacreekCAF; 31 nests, first date 6-10 (10) eggs, 17 HAWKS AND EAGL~Sout of 31 hatched Roscoe HAK Turkey Vulture-6-5 (1) SlIm Buttes,
Green-winged Teal-6-25 (1) 'Lacreek Harding Co. WH; 6-10 (33), 6-13 (28) inRCR; 6-27 (10) downy young, Rosholt, groups of 5 to. 7 but all visible in the sky atRoberts Co. BKH; 7 nests, first date 6-14 on~e, Spearfl.sh Valley, TH; few.around(5) eggs, 5 out of 7 hatched, Roscoe HAK. Fairburn, dail~ BN; 7-2 (2) Perkrns AH;
Blue-winged Teal-Numerous all over 7-23 (4) Spearflsh Canyon, RK; 7-21 (1)state. 21 on Roswell route NH. 5992 Tabor, Bon Homme Co. WHoprod~ced to flight, Lacreek, CAF; 71 Sharp-shinned. Hawk-Presentnests first date 5-17 (7) eggs 49 out of 71 Waubay and Perkrns Co.hatched, Roscoe, HAK.' Cooper's Hawk-Present Waubay; 8~
Cinnamon Teal-5-26 (1) male 20 miles (1) Nameless Cave Road, TH, EMS.north of Roscoe HAK. ' Red-tailed Hawk-6-18 (1) north Hyde
American Widgeon-7-17 first brood, Co.; 7-29, 7-30 (1) Elkvale Cemetery,total, 4 broods with 24 young, Waubay Meade Co.: photographed, NRW; 7-21 (~)RRJ; 1 nest, 6-20 (8) eggs, 5 hatched; 6-12 L~ke Menndahl WH; 8-7 south Rapidbrood of 8, Roscoe HAK. City BHAS; (3) nests, Deuel, (2) nests,
Shoveler-I7 nests first date 5-16 9 out Roberts BKH.of 17 hatched Rosc~e HAK. 6-21 f~male Swainson's Hawk-6-25 (2) Martin,with 12 young: Hyde Co.; 7-18 (1) brood of Bennett C? RCR; present Waubay, Hyde7 young Waubay RRJ. 744 produced to Co., Perkrns Co.; 8-7 (5) young recentlyflight, Lacreek CAF. ' out of nest, flying fairly well; one caught
Wood Duck-7-3 (2) juveniles L&C. 8-3 and ba?ded by Don Adolphson-:-ad~lt(2 young) Waubay. '~~~~mrng overhead, south Rapid City
Redhead-6-3 (4) Sand Lake; 6-18 Ferruginous Hawk-8-3 (2) Harding(4) pair, one habitat, Hyde Co.; 6-25 (6) Co. DA; 5 nests total, 2 nests found 5-22,Lacreek R~R; 7-3 (18) broods with 117 Roscoe, Edmunds HAK.young, Waubay RRJ; (8) Roswell route Golden Eagle-6-5 (2) Deerfield, BlackNH) 324 produced to flight, Lacreek Hills CY; 8-3 (1) Harding Co. DA.CAF; 5 nests, first date 6-14 (11) eggs, Marsh Hawk-Nest in rye stubble, 5-18hatched on 6-21, 5 nests out of 5 hatched, (5) eggs, hatched 4 out of 6 eggs by 6-16,Roscoe, HAK. on 7~ (5) half-grown young, Roscoe,
Canvasback-6-3 (3) Campbell Co.; 6- Edmunds HAK.23 (13) broods with 81 young, Waubay; 65 Broad-winged Hawk-6-20 (1) Newtonproduced to flight, Lacreek CAF; 3 Hills, Lincoln Co., 6-27 (1) Sieche Hollow,nests, first date 5-5, hatched 6~, 2 nests Roberts BKH.out of 3 hatched, Roscoe, HAK. Prairie Falcon-6-5 (2) Slim Buttes,54 SOUTH DAKOTA BIRD NOTES~-
Harding Co. WHo Double-crested Cormorant-NestingSparrow Hawk-Perkins Co.; scarce, with Great Blue Herons, Lake Sharpe,
Pennington; about 2 daily, Spearfish Chamberlain, Brule Co. JH; 6-25 (100)Valley TH; 7-9 (6) Conata, Pennington Lacreek RCR; 6-3 Lake Oahe, nestingCo. EMS; 7-19 through 7-26 (4), 7-28 (5) with Great Blue Herons, total of 160all close together, Yankton Co. WHo nests-96 Cormorants on nests and 26
Herons; 6-28 (7 nests) Lake Sutton,GROUSE Deuel, 6-30 (48 nests) Bullhead Lake,
Sharp-tailed-Present Hyde Co.; 6.-15 Roberts BKH; 8-5 (36; L & C (WH);covey of (5), 7-21 covey of (11) Perkms present Waubay; regular in Hyde Co. allAH. .period; 6-3 (10) Sand Lake, sunning in
Sage-I, covey, Perkms Co. tree EMS; 175 young, ground check ofBob-whlte-7-25 (1) Yankton Co. WH; colony Lacreek CAF.
south Pickstown, Charles Mix Co. near Gre~t Blue 'Heron-Colony LakeNebra~ka lin,c' 20. to 25 observed and Sharpe, Brule Co., JH; 7-5 thru '7-26, L.heard m 4 mIle drIve BJR. Marindahl SH' (5) Seymour Dam south
Ring-necked Pheasant-6-1 (15) young Perkins Co. Ail. 6-5 (2) Deerfield'Blackfl~wup'inafield,PerkinsCo.AH;6-4(I) Hills, 7'-9 colo~y, Cottonwood 'Creek,MIlesvIlle, Haakon Co. EMS; 6-1 (12) a Quinn (15 young and 6 adults at nestingweek old, 7-3 hen and 7 young, Hyde Co. tree), many singles at small dams inJH; 6-26 (2) Aurora .WH; average, Pennington Co. BHAS; 7-2 (1) lowerWaubay RRJ; 5 nests, fIrst date 5-5 (1) Spearfish Canyon, Black Hills RCR; 4egg, 5 out of 5 nests hatched, Roscoe, nests, 1 egg, no young-first nestingHAK. record, Lacreek, CAF.
Gray Partridge-Good hatch for third Green Heron-7-3 (1) L&C 7-5 (1) 7-7consecutive year, Deuel Co. BKH; 1 nest, (1), 7-26 (2) L. Marindahl WHo '
6-15 (19) eggs, hatched 17 out of 19 eggs Cattle Egret-(1 pair) L. Mitchell,by 6-30, Roscoe, HAK. male in breeding plumage JH; (1)
CRANES AND RAILS Cresbard in June HWW.Virginia Rail-6-13 (1) Campbell Co.; Black-crowned Night Heron-Few
present Waubay, Perkins Co.; 6-27 (1) BrookingsCo.NH; 6-3 (3) Campbell Co.;Ottumwa, Haakon BJR; 2 nests, first 6-18 (5) one habitat, reduced in number,date 5-14 (4) eggs, and the other 5-26 with Hyde Co.; 6-26 (8) Aurora Co. WH; 6-25(9) eggs-both hatched. "One of these (8) Lacreek RCR; 300 young, boat sur-nests was in dry uplands 50 yds. from vey, Lacreek CAF; 7-8 nest with (2) onewater in sweet clover and brome, week old young, Roscoe, Edmunds HAK.Roscoe, Edmunds Co. HAK. American Bittern-Absent, Perkins
Sora-Present, Waubay; 6-27 (1) Ot- Co. AH; present Hyde Co.; 6-3 (2)tumwa, Haakon Co. BJR; 6-6 (2) birds Campbell Co. NRW; 6-7 nest with 5 eggs,dead-caught on fence, Potter Co., "I success unknown, Waubay; 6-26 (5)have found barbed wire fences a regular Aurora Co. WH; 6-19 (1) nest with 4 eggs,hazard for rails and coots," BKH; (6) hatched by 7-14; 6-22 (1) nest with 3 eggs,Roswell route, (2) Howard route, (7) 7-24 (4) young in this nest, Roscoe, Ed-Volga route, none in 1971 and (1) Volga munds HAK.route, I97o-"Many more than in past Least Bittern-6-30 (1) Bullhead L.,years." NH. Roberts Co. BKH.
American Coot-6-18 (5) half-grown, 7- CORVIDAE13 young of all sizes, Hyde Co.; 6-4 many Blue Jay-Few daily, Rapid City andnests, Campbell Co.; 6-4 nest, Sand Lake Yankton, 6-30 (10) Yankton; 6-24 (4)with 15 eggs NRW; 7-24 (6) Curlew Lake, Rosebud, 6-29 (1) Custer State Park Zoo,
,Meade Co. EMS. RCR.SEPTEMBER,1972 55
~
Black-billed Magpie-6-28 (24) Hyde Co.; common over state; 6-3Rimrock Highway, Penn. Co.-15 in one building nest, Molstad L. NRW.flock NRW; 7 nests found, population Robin-Up on all surveys NH; goodincreasing, Lacreek CAF. hatch over state; definite imcrease
Common Crow-(5) every day, around Brookings; 8-1 (24) in one flock,Spearfish Valley TH; 6-28 (12) Roubaix to Rapid City RK.Highway 385 NRW; 6-1 Corson Co. nest Wood Thrush-6-1 through 6-6 (5) nestswith 4 young, WHo located in Gregory Co. along Missouri
Pinon Jay-Good-sized flock comes River, one nest and adult taken BA; 6-20into a Canyon Lake area feeder every singing male near abandoned nest,day, 40 to 50; Whitney has banded many Lincoln Co. (nest taken); nests alongat his home during period. Missouri River were within 1 sq. mile
CHICKADEES, NUTHATCHES, area. Species is evidently fairly commonCREEPER, DIPPER AND WREN in that area BKH.
.' Black-capped Chickadee-6-3 (2) with Eastern Bluebird-Present Waubay; 6-'11 food, Dewey Co. BKH; present Perkins 3 (1) Corson Co.; 6-3 (1 pair) Hiddenwood
'1";1 Co., Waubay; 7-15, 7-19 (1) Yankton Co.; NRW; present in June, Campbell,, ,I few around during period, BHAS. Walworth, Corson, Dewey, Hughes,
Oi"'" White-breasted Nuthatch-6-20 (2) Charles Mix and Gregory COSo BKH..,:) nests with young, Lincoln Co. BKH; 8-4 Mountain Bluebird-6-5 (1) Slim; (2) Rapid City; present, Waubay. Buttes, 6-13 (2) Cedar Pass, Badlands
Red-breasted Nuthatch-6-28 (3) WH; 6-30 nest in unfinished basementRoubaix NRW. room-7-12 (4) young able to fly and
Brown Creeper-June (1) Farm shooed out of the house, Rapid CityIsland, Pierre, BKH; 6-29, 6-30 (2) Sylvan EMS.Lake, Black Hills RCR. Townsend's Solitaire-7-12 (1) yard
Do-6-6 (6) S f. h C 15 NRW) 6-29 (3) Needles Highway, Black
.Ipper. pear IS anyon, Hills RCR.mInute ride, and one nest TH; 6-7 (2) G Id d K " gl t 6 30 (1).0 en-crowne In e --Rough-lock Falls, one carrYIng food WHo Needles Highway; 6-30 (2) Spearfish
House Wren-13 nests, Hyd~ Co., (5) of Canyon Timon Campground 7-1 (5)these re-nested JH; (2) nests m a !>Oot on same a~ea RCR. '
porch, successful hatches, PerkIns Co. S g e' Pipit-7-3 LaPlant DeweyAH; 7-15 (8) juveniles, 7-27 fam~ly o~ 7, Co. ~:ar~ s:veral in air, 7-12 (2) singingYankton Co. WH; no nests, Rapid City; no Fto Pierre 8-6 (1) singing n. PierreVolga route, (5) 1970, (6) 1971, (14) 1972 BJR.' ,
NHLo _b o il d M h W _6-3 (1) Cedar Waxwing-6-1 few; 6-6 (1 pair);ong I ears ren 8-12 (12) BHAS': juvenile, 8-5 (2) juveniles, (3) nests-l 0
: dummy-in cattails, Yankton WH; 6-3 SHOREBIRDS(3) Campbell Co.; present, Waubay; Piping Plover-Present Waubay; 6-1Roswell route, (5) 1971, (12) 1972 NH. (2) nests destroyed several times, re-
Rock Wren-6-25 (10) Badlands NRW. built, finally producing 2 young from 2MIMmS. THRUSHES, KINGLETS, pairs, Pierre BJR.
PIPITS AND WAXWING Killdeer-Common over state; 6-26Mockingbird-6-1 (1) Rapid City RK. (19) Aurora Co.; good hatch, Hyde Co.;Catbird-7-13 nest with 3 eggs, 7-14 nest several hatches, Perkins Co.; 8-17 (18)
wit!) 3 eggs, 7-15, (1), 7-26 (2) and nest Stephens Dam, Penn. Coo BHASowith 3 juveniles, Yankton Co. WHo Long-billed Curlew-Excellent hatch,
Brown Thrasher-Good hatch, Perkins Penn. Co.; 6-25 (1) Jackson Co.; 6-28 (40)Co.; 6-13 (1) young recently out of nest, south Rapid City, RES; 7-9 (8 adults, 2
56 SOUTH DAKOTA BIRD NOTES
young), Custer Co., (2) coyotes sneaking Seavey's Lake, NRW; common in 10up after young, but spooked HB; 7-23 (1 counties, East River BKH; unusuallyadult, 1 young) Curlew Lake EMS; 8-3 (6) small numbers this year, Roscoe, HAK.Harding Co. DA. GULLS, DOVES AND CUCKOOS
Upland Plover-Good hatch around Herring Gull-8-6 (6) below Oahe DamRapid City; 6-25 (20) Jackson Co. NRW; BJR.7-9 (4) north Quinn, Penn. Co.; present, California Gull-8-6 (4) below OaheWaubay and Hyde Co.; 6-15 nest with 4 Dam B.)~.eggs, 1/4 mile from house, Perkins Co., Ring-billed Gu11-7-19 (1) Yankton Co.goodhatchAH; 6-26 (13) Aurora Co. WH; WH; 6-3 (16) L. Pocasse NRW; 7-23 (1)6-24 (1) Rosebud RCR; very few noted Curlew Lake; 7-19 (I) L&c (WH).from Aberdeen to Mobridge to Franklin's Gull-Present Waubay,Pickstown-more in Campbell and Hyde Co.; 7-1 Perkins Co.; high waterEdmunds Coso BKH; 9 nests, first date 6- may have hindered nesting~none found13 (4) eggs, 7 of 9 nests hatched, Roscoe, in Roberts Co. BKH.Edmunds Co. HAK. Common Tern-Present Waubay; 6-9
Spotted Sandpiper-6-3 (3 pairs) (1), 6-11 (I) Pierre BJR.started nests that were destroyed, re- Forster's Tern-Decreased numbersbuilt and raise 5 from 3 pairs, Pierre Hyde Co. (1 pair) JH; 7-19 (1), 8-5 (2)BJR; 6-4 nest with 4 eggs on small island L&c (WH); 7-2 (10 pair) nesting in 204 ft. from water and 3" from base of acre slough (nests not checked), Deuelcottonwood sapling w. Walworth Co. WH; Co.; 6-30 (8 pair) nesting, Bullhead Lake,7-1 (1), 7-13 (2),7-14 (1) Yankton Co. WHo Roberts, (1) downy young examined
Willet-6-3 (3) Dewey; 6-3 (2) probably BKH.nesting, Campbell Co. NRW; 8-2 (2) s. Least Tern-6-21 (2), 8-6 (3) PierreRapid City BHAS; few in Campbell, BJR; 7-3 (1) 7-19 (2) L&c (WH).Dewey and Sully Coso in early June in 13 Black Tern-Decreased numbers Hydecounty trip BKH; 1 nest, 5-4 (2) eggs, Co. JH; 7-23 (100 plus) Curlew Lakehatched 4 eggs by 6-5, Roscoe HAK. EMS; 6-26 (2) Aurora, 7-19 (1) through 8-5
Greater Yellow Legs-7-18 (8) Pierre (2) Yankton Co. WHoBJR. Mourning Dove-Up on all routes, NH;
Lesser Yellow Legs-7-18 (8) Pierre 6-4 (2) half-grown in nest, 6-29 (2) half-BJR. grown in Hopa crab, Hyde Co. JH;
Marbled Godwit-6-18 and 7-13 (2 pair) numerous over state.one habitat, Hyde Co. JH; 6-3 (12) Yellow-billed Cucko0-6-6 (1) GregoryCampbell Co., dive-bombed car EMS; 6- Co. BA; Pierre BJR; 6-9 through 6-20 (1)30 (7) n. Ft. Pierre, 6-14 (1 pair) Ot- Rapid City GRB; 6-25 (1) Lacreek RCR;tumwa, Haakon Co., 8-6 (1) Oahe Dam 6-28 (1) singing Hyde Co. JH; 6-6 (1) nestBJR; found_in Edmunds, Potter, Gregory Co. BA.Walworth Coso on 13 county trip, 7-4 Black-billed Cuckoo-Few at Pierrepresent Deuel Co. BKH; 2 nests first date than Yellow-billed BJR; 6-24 (1) Rosebud5-17 (4) eggs, hatched by 5-30, the other RCR; 7-5 (1) through 7-14 L. Marindahl,nest with 4 pipped eggs, 5-16, Roscoe, 7-13 (1), 7-2.1 (1) Yankton Co. WH;HAK. present Waubay; 6-2 (1) singing, Hyde
Sanderling-7-18 (11), 7-23 (5) Pierre, Co. JH; (4 pair) all period, Perkins Co.BJR. AH.
American Avocet-7-19 (2) Waubay; 6- OWLS3 (1) Dewey Co.. 7-5 (2) 7-11 (1) Pierre Screech-(1 pair) Highmore, Hyde Co.BJR. " all period JH; Perkins Co. AH; 6-6 (1)
Wilson's Phalarope-6-13 (2) Waubay; Gregory BA; 6-14 (2 adults, 4 young)6-26 (4) Aurora down in numbers at Spearfish Valley, young, screaming forSEPTEMBER,1972 57
food could fly from branch to branch and Spearfish Valley TH; 7-9 through 8-5 (8)look~d like balls of fuzz TH; 7-16 (1) Penn. Co. BHAS; 7-21 (3) young, stillRoberts Co. BKH. present 8-11, Hyde Co. JH.
Great Horned-6-26 (1) Aurora; 7-15 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker-(3) nests(1) Yankton Co. WH; present Hyde Co., Big Stone Lake, Roberts-4th con-Waubay, and Perkins Co. secutive year that firmly establis.hes
Long-eared-Nest with 3 eggs in wheat nesting; 6-20 (1) nest, Newton Hills,stubble field Perkins Co. AH. Lincoln Co. BKH.
Short-eared-(2) nests Perkins Co.; 6-4 Hairy-7-29 (2) young males, Rapid(1) Milesville Haakon; 6-25 (1) Jackson City DK; 7-15 (1) Yankton WHo, .
Co.; 7-3 (14) probably two or three Downy-7-21 through 7-28 (1) Im-
families, 7-31 (8),8-7 (1) immature found mature, Rapid City GRB; 7-3,7-15,8-5 (1)in hay field, banded by DA, s. Rapid City ,each, Yankton WHoRES; 6-1 nest with 2 newly hatched young FLYCATCHERSin rye stubble, Rosco.e, HAK. .Eastern Kingbird-Numerous over
Saw-W~et-:-7-12 (1) Immature In a barn entire state; 7-5 (4) young off nest, RapidS.w. RapId City, banded by NRW. City EAS; 7-13, 7-27 (2) nests, adult in-
GOATSUCKERS, SWIFTS, cubating 1 egg in each, 8-3 (8) together,HUMMINGBIRDS AND KINGFISHER Yankton WH; 7-28 (2 adults, 2 young)Poorwill-6-24 (1) Rosebud RCR. Rapid City EMS.Common Nighthawk-6-14 (2) nests, Western Kingbird-8lightly down on
each with 2 eggs, Perkins, AH; fewer all counts NH; 6-26 (5) Aurora; 7-19than past years, Pennington Co.; 7-6 (1) through 8-5 (4) singles, Yankton WH; 6-3nest Deuel, GH. nest, Lake Campbell, Campbell Co.,
Chimney Swift-6-20 (2), 7-2 (2) Rapid NRW; 7-22 (6) probably family. NewCity, EMS; 7-28 (1) throlJgh 8-2 (5) flying Underwood EMS; 6-28 nest with 3 young,400 feet up against a threatening sky, 7-1 same nest with 2 dead, causeYankton, WH; nesting Deuel and Roberts unknown, Hyde Co. JH.Coso BKH Great Crested Flycatcher-6-3 (1)
White-throated Swift-6-14 flying over Dewey BKH' 6-6 (1) male callingDark Canyon, copulating in air; flood Grego;y CO. BA; 6-24 (2) Rosebud, 6-25waters didn't go high enough in the (1) Wounded Knee, Shannon Co. RCR.canyon to reach their nests NR W; 6-5 (8) Eastern Phoebe-Present Hyde Co.; 6-Slim Buttes, Harding Co., in a high, gusty 24 (1) singing at bridge west of Braeburnwind, skimmering ~i.thin inches of the Addition, Rapid City, (not unusual in acliff where the PraIrIe Falcon perched wet year) NRW.WHo Say's Phoebe-6-13 (1) Cedar Pass,
Belted Kingfisher-7-29 (1) prairie n. Badlands WH; 6-25 (1) Jackson Co.Seavey's Lake NRW; 8-31 (1) Camp NRW; 7-9 (2) Sage Creek Basin,Crook, Harding Co. (unusual) DA; Badlands EMS; present, Perkins Co. AH.present all summer, Perkins; 7-5 through Traill's Flycatcher-6-3 (1) Molstad7-26 (1) MarindahlL., 7-27 (1) adult with 3 Lake NRW; present Waubay, Hyde Co.juveniles, Yankton WHo Least Flycatcher-6-3 (1) Molstad L.
WOODPECKERS NRW; quite common, Campbell andFlicker-Good hatch Perkins Co.; Walworth Coso in June BKH; (2) Farm
occasional singles through period, Rapid Island, Hughes Co. BKH, presentCity. Waubay.
Red-headed-7-15 through 7-21 (6) Western Flycatcher-6-13 (1) Spear-Yankton. Co. WH; present all period, fish Valley TH; 6-13 (3) Roubaix, 7-9Perkins Co.; 6-5 nest with 4 young through 7-12 present in Rapid and Dark58 SOUTH DAKOTA BIRD NOTES~\
Canyons after flood NRW; 7-23 (1) with 7 eggs NRW; many in West RiverHisega, Penn. Co. NRW. area; 7-13 (1) young flying short
Eastern Wood Pewee-6-6 (1) calling distances JH; 7-3 (3) young just off nest,male, Gregory Co. BA; 7-19 (2) many around, Perkins Co. AH; 7-1 (1)Lesterville, Yankton Co. WHo nest Deuel; (1) adult found regularly,
Western Wood Pewee-6-6 through 6-8 Grant Co., but no nest found-uncommon(1) singing GRB; 6-7 nest CY; 7-2, 7-31 nester in NE S. Dak. BKH.singles, BHAS; 6-24 (2) Rosebud RCR. Starling-8-3 (1 pair) raised two
Horned Lark-6-25 (20) Jackson Co. broods, Rapid City, DeF.NRW; 7-13 many young along roads, Bell's Vire0-6-3 (1 pair) excited aboutHyde Co.; good hatch, Perkins Co. and empty nest BKH; 7-5 through 7-26 (1)Curlew Lake, Meade Co.; Volga route, singing, Marindahl L. WH.low count-(17) 1970, (17) 1971, (4) 1972 Solitary Vire0-6-28 (6) Roubaix NRW;NH. 7-12 (1) Sanator, Custer Co. JWJ; 7-18 (1)
Violet-green Swallow-6-15 (35) after Rapid City EAS.rain, Spearfish Valley TH; many feeding Red-eyed Vireo-Present duringon mud flats after Canyon Lake Dam period, Perkins Co.; 7-8, 7-19 (1) GRB,broke, NRW. abundant in Dark Canyon after flood
Tree Swallow-Present Waubay; 6-3 NRW, 8-1 (1) Rapid City; 7-26 (1)(6) Campbell Co.; 6-9 active nest box migrant male, Deuel Co. BKH.destroyed by flood BG. Warbling Vireo-7-1 Yankton WH; 7-9
Bank Swallow-7-3 (40), 7-21 (1), 7-25 adult feeding young cowbird on branch,(3), 7-28 (1), 8-6 (6) Yankton Co., 7-13 a 7-25 through 7-31 singing Rapid Cityflock of about 500 on and about dead GRB; 6-28 (4) Roubaix NRW; 8-1 (1)willows-most of them Bank, a few Rapid City EAS; Roswell route, (1) 1970,RoQgh-winged, and few Cliff, Yankton (3) 1972 NH; Howard route, (1) 1971, (3)Co. WHo 1972 NH.
Rough-winged Swallow-Many along WARBLERSRapid Creek before and after flood Black and White Warbler-6-18 (2)BHAS; 7-26 (10) Marindahl L. WHo singing W. Hermosa, Custer Co. BJR; 6-
Barn Swallow-(~) nests ~arm yard, 24 (6) Rosebud, RCR.many young all period,. Perkl~s Co.; 6-4 Yellow Warbler-7-9 family, 8-3 (3)(50 plus) Dry Cr~ek b~ldge, Ziebach Co. Rapid City; present Perkins Co.,EMS; ?ne nest with Cliff Swallow colony, Waubay; 7-21 adult feeding (1) young,Spearflsh Valley; few Yan~ton Co.; 6-13 Hyde Co.; 7-5 through 7-26 L. MarindahlI through 7-26 nest producmg 7 young, (1) singing WHoHyd~ Co. JH. .Audubon's-7-9 (1) singing, yard NRW.
Cliff Swallow-6-2~ (3) colonIes, total, Ovenbird-6-7, 6-12 Spearfish Canyon118 nests unde: bridges, J~ckson C? (1) singing WH; 6-28 (1) Roubaix, few inNRW; (2)colomes-:-l00nestsl~one, 12m Dark Canyon NRW; 7-30 (1) Rapid CityI the other under bridge, Spearflsh TH; 7- E:AS; 6-20 (1 pair) agitated Newton Hills,25 (100 plus), 8-5 (GO), (145 nests 25 to 35 Lincoln Co.; 6-6 (1) male, Gregory Co.ft. above the :vater on. L&C Bluff WHo along Missouri River BKH.
~urple Martln-(2 pair) at one house MacGilIivray's-7-1 (15) heard andraised 8 young, Hyde Co. JH; left seen Spearfish and Little SpearfishWaubay headquarters area 7-31. Can;on RCR.
SHRIKE, STARLING AND VIREO Yellowthroat-Present Waubay;.7-23Loggerhead Shrike- 6-2, 6-5 nest 7' in singing, Perkins Co.; Hyde Co.; 6-25 (1)
elm, incubating 7 eggs, Oahe Dam WH; Jackson Co., 6-28 (4) Roubaix NRW; 6-266-7 nest, Elk Creek Valley, Meade Co. (3) Aurora; 7-14,8-3,8-5 Marindahl L. (1)SEPTEMBER,1972 59
singing WH. 7-12 (3) n. Custer NRW.American Redstart-6-4 very common
at Farm Island, Hughes Co. BKH; 6-19 .W~ste.rn Tanager-June and .July (1)(1) GRB 6-28 (1) singing male Johnson smgmg m yard, 6-28 (13) Roubalx NRW;Siding, Penn. Co. NRW.' 7-29 (1) DK, 8-3 (3) DeF, Rapid City; 6-1
(1) male Belle Fourche. .."BirdsHOUSE SPARROW, BLACKBIRD change with the changes in men. As
AND TANAGERS population crowds out woodlands in theHouse Sparrow-Fewer at Yankton, east and central sections of the country,
otherwise good hatch. as airports level native timber andBobolink-Good hatch Perkins Co.; 6- shatter the quiet, birds tend to move
25 (5) Lacreek RCR; about (3) every away from the crowds and noise. So it isday, singing males, Spearfish Valley TH; that in recent years, Baltimore orioles6-28 (2) Roubaix, high altitude for this are found in this area, as well as thebird, 4700 ft. NRW; 6-26 none in Yankton native Bullock. And this spring, for theCo. "Field where they were observed in first time, rose-breasted grosbeaks camepast years was under water too long for to our hill-and still are around. Con-cultivation WH; 7-2 (1) female feeding sequently, it would be no surprise at all tofledged, begging cowbird BKH. see perched on our feeder some morning
Eastern Meadowlark-6-25 (5) a scarlet tanager. But scarlet body, blackLacreek RCR. wings and tail, he will be no more
Western Meadowlark-6-25 (255) striking than his western cousin, theJackson Co. NRW; 6-26 (53) Aurora WHo Western Tanager in yellow and black
Yellow-headed Blackbird-Increased with a scarlet head. Just as it is withnumbers, Hyde Co.; present Waubay; humans, some of them stand out from thefew Perkins Co.; 7-29 (14) Seavey's Lake crowd." IW.NRW. Scarlet Tanager-6-24 (1) Rosebud
Red-winged Blackbird-Many nests RCR; 6-20 (1) singing male, Newtonmust have been lost in the flood as all Hills, Lincoln Co. BKH.brush was torn out by water or bulldozers Cardinal-6-6 nest with (2) CardinalEMS; many, Hyde Co. and (2) Cowbird eggs, Gregory Co. BKH;
Orchard Oriole--(10) pairs, ranch, 7-10, 7-26, 7-30, 7-31, 8-1 (1) each, 8-3 (1)Perkins Co. AH; 6-12 (1) Rapid City EAS; singing before sun-up, Yankton WHo6-25 (2) Jackson Co. NRW; Volga route, Rose-breasted Grosbeak-7-5 (1), 7-15(6) 1971, (2), 1972; Roswell route, (8) (2),7-19 (1) Yankton Co. WHo1971, (3) 1972, NH. Black-headed Grosbeak-6-24 (2)
Baltimore Oriole-6-10 (1 adult, 1 Rosebud RCR; 7-6 (2 pair) Hyde Co.; 6-8young) in yard, probably displaced by (1) singing, 7-8 (1) young 7-26 singing,flood EAS; present, Waubay; 6-24 (1) GRB, Rapid City; 7-2 (1) road kill,Rosebud RCR. Spearfish TH; 8-1 (2) adults, (2) young
Bullock's Oriole--(l pair) Perkins; 6-8 Rapid City DK; 8-4 (1) pair yard NRW.nest in yard, 6-26 through 7-5 (1 young) Blue Grosbeak-6-7 (1) male, MeadeGRB, 6-30 (1 nest) fledged (2) and Co., 6-25 (2) males Jackson Co. NRW; 7-another (4), one male, brown and orange, 24 (8) from Promis~ Day School to Whiteand the other, full color, black, orange Horse, Dewey Co., many, Charles Mixand white, Rapid City, EAS. Co. BJR; Howard route, (1) NH.
Brown-headed Cowbird-6-25 (7) Unusual for eastern South Dakota.Jackson Co. NRW; present all points; 6- Indigo Bunting-6-1 through 6-9 (1)26 (68) Aurora WH; 7-5 through 7-14 (13) singing, (1) Indigo-Lazuli X, SpearfishMarindahl L. WHo TH; 6-11 (2) males fighting, Rapid City
Brewer's Blackbird-6-28 (2) Roubaix, NRW; 6-24 (3) Rosebud RCR; 7-5 through60 SOUTH DAKOTA BIRD NOTES
[J
-.
i 7-27 (8) in 6 sightings, Yankton WH; 1970, (23) 1971, (25) 1972; Howard route,present, Corson, Hughes, Gregory and (12) 1970, (16) 1971, (11) 1972; RoswellLyman COSo BKH. route, (12) 1971, (8) 1972 NH; present
Lazuli Bunting--6-30 (2) Custer RCR; Perkins Co.; 6-1 nest with 2 eggs., success7-7,7-9 (1) Rapid City, EMS, 7-25 (1) pair unknown, Waubay; 7-9 (3) ScenIc, Penn.with food and singing NRW. Co., few around Rapid City EMS.
Dickcissel-6-2 noted, Hyde Co.; Volga Lark Sparrow-7-9 (18) 2 flocks closeroute, (12) 1971, (34) 1972; Howard route, together, Scenic, EMS; 8-7 (5) s. Rapid(24) 1971, (41) 1972; Roswell route, (39) City; 7-19 (1) Lesterville, 7-21 (5) Tabor,1971, (24) 1972 NH; present Waubay, Bon Homme Co. WH; 6-25 (5) WoundedPerkins Co.; 6-25 (12) Lacreek RCR; 6-26 Knee RCR; early June singles in Dewey(30) Aurora Co. WH; 7-5 through 7-26 (4) and Lyman on 13 county trip BKH.Yankton WHo White-winged Junco-6-29 (2) Mt.
Pine Siskin-7-12 (4) family, Pierre, Coolidge, Black Hills, 7-1 (1) LittleBJR; 7-31 few on weeds, Rapid City RK. Spearfish Canyon RCR; 7-19 (2) young in
American Goldfinch-Present yard NRW.Waubay, numerous, Perkins; few Rapid Chipping Sparrow-Present Hyde Co.;City; 7-13 through 8-3 (10) in 7 sightings, 6-28 (46) Roubaix NRW; seem scarceYankton WH; (2) nests, 5 and 6 eggs, around Rapid City-probably washed outsuccessful, Deuel Co. BKH. in flood since they nest low.
Red Crossbill-Small (6 to 10) flocks Clay-colored Sparrow-Presentaround Rapid City, June and July; 6-28 Waubay; Cresbard; 6-3 (1) Hiddenwood(52) Rouj>aix, NRW; 8-1 (6) young eating NRW.on sunflowers EAS; 8-6 (8) sitting on wire Field Sparrow--6-3 (1) Corson Co.EMS; 7-23 (15) adult and young, some all BKH; 7-5 through 7-28 (9) in 6 sightings,through period, Pierre BJR; noted (3) Marindahl L. WHotimes, Deuel and Roberts BKH. Swamp Sparrow--6-25 (4) Lacreek
Rufous-sided Towhee-Common city RCR.park Spearfish TH ; many, Skyline Drive, Song Sparrow-Many L. Pocasse andRapid City; 6-25 (4) Jackson Co. NRW; L. Molstad, Walworth Co. NRW; 8-3 andpresent Cresbard, Perkins Co. 8-5 (1) singing, Yankton SR.
Lark Bunting-Howard route, (6) 1971, Chestnut-collared Longspur--6-24 (6)(13) 1972; Roswell route, none 1971, (11) Mission, Todd Co. RCR; 6-26 (5) Aurora1972 NH; many at Rapid City; 7-27 WH;7-13familywith4young,HydeCo.;beginning to flock; good hatch, 7-17 nest good hatch Perkins Co. AH; 7-23 goodwith 4 eggs, Perkins AH; no sightings but hatch, Curlew Lake, Meade Co.known to nest, Waubay; 6-26 (2) Aurora COpyCo. WHo Attached is some nesting data for this
Savannah Sparrow-Present at Wau- year at Lacreek National Wildlifebay. Refuge. Sorry I didn't have time to work
Grasshopper Sparrow-Waubay; 6-25 up more complete information for you.(12) Lacreek RCR; 6-25 (22) Jackson Co. Summer is a busy time here.NRW; 7-5 (6) Spearfish Valley TH; Volga This was a record year for waterfowlroute, (1) 1970, (6) 1971, (1) 1972; Howard here. We had the highest number ofroute, (31) 1970, (17) 1971, (14) 1972, breeding waterfowl since our censusRoswell route, none 1971, (11) 1972 NH. methods were established, 1952, and our
Baird's Sparrow-LaPlante to Parade, production of ducklings was the secondDewey Co. singing at 3 stops, BJR; ap- highest in the last 20 years, topped onlyparently nested at Cresbard-caught in by 1967. The great blue heron nestingtrap 3 times HWW. attempt is also worthy of note. I haven't
Vesper Sparrow-Volga route, (23) (Continued on Page 63)SEPTEMBER,1972 61
~I
Pesticides and Predatory BirdsMichael Moore
THE USE of pesticides, particularly the toxic effects than other birds." (2)DDT, started less than 40 years ago, and DDE, the principal metabolic productalready serious side effects have been of DDT, was found to cause birds to layobserved. One of the most disastrous eggs with much thinner shells, whicheffects of pesticides is the damage in- often break before hatching. Many eggsflicted upon the reproductive cycle of that do not break never hatch, or thepredatory birds. The numbers of young chicks die &:oon after they hatch.predatory birds in Europe and North The chemical DDE obstructs a bird'sAmerica are dwindling at an alarming ability to deliver calcium to the ovumrate. where the eggshell is formed. (3)
One species in particular danger is the We lack, nevertheless, full knowledgebald eagle. This bird, the symbol of our about the way DDE works in birds.nation, is fast becoming extinct. Of Scientists cannot e~plain wh_y DDE killsI
' course, needless slaughter and shrinking the embryo inside the shell. Anotherof its natural habitat are partially unexplained phenomenon is that aresponsible but the greatest threat to relatively small content of only 75 parts
!1 the species is the failure of most adult per million in the egg reduces the shellbirds to reproduce efficiently. This latter thickness over 20 percent; as the dosageeffect is due to pesticide chemiclals increases, the thinning of the shell ispresent in the birds' bodies. (1) more gradual. In other words, amounts
A peculiarity of DDT and other non- of DDE present are not proportional tobiodegradable chemicals is the tendency the decrease in shell thickness. There istoward higher concentrations of the also evidence that similar DDE con-chemical as it moves up the food chain. centrations affect different species inAccording to naturalist David B. different ways.Peakall, "The birds of prey are par- Dieldrin, another pesticide, and PCB, aticularly vulnerable to the effects of a chemical given off when plastics arepersistent pesticide such as DDT because burned, cause birds to breed abnormallythey are the top of a food chain. As late in the season. This occurrenceGeorge M. Woodwell of the Brookhaven decreases the chances of survival for theI
!! National Laboratory has shown., DDT hatchlings; the young do not hatch when
i accumulates to an increasingly high food is most plentiful, and thus, their
!., concentration in passing up a chain from survival is more precarious. At times theIi predator to predator, and at the top of the eggs may be broken, and Dieldrin and! chain it may be concentrated a PCB tend to prevent a second attempt atI thousandfold or more over the content in breeding. (4), the original source (see "Toxic Sub- From 1967 to 1970, a group from Cornell
stances and Ecological Cycles," by University and the University of AlaskaGeorge M. Woodwell; SCIENTIFIC researched the breeding success andAMERICAN, March, 1967). The DDT exposure of ALASKAN FALCONSpredatory birds, as carnivores, feed on AND HAWKS. This research revealed:birds that have fed in turn on insects and "Eggshell thickness was reduced by 21.7plants.. Hence the birds of prey ac- percent in Alaskan tundra peregrines, bycumulate a higher dose of the persistent 16.8 percent in taiga peregrines, by 7.5pesticides and are more likely to suffer percent in Aleutian peregrines, by 3.3
62 SOUTH DAKOTA BIRD NOTES
percent in rough-legged hawks, and not Naturalist George Ott explains: "Thoughat all in gyrfalcons. Tundra peregrine the use of DDT in the United States mayeggs contain an average of 889 parts of have peaked, the amount present in ourDDE per million (lipid basis); taiga waters will continue to show a steady riseperegrine eggs contain 673 parts per for some years for two reasons: (1) DDTmillion; Aleutian peregrine eggs contain already in the soil will continue to be167 parts per million; rough-legged hawk washed into lakes, rivers, and oceans;eggs contain 22.5 parts per million; and and (2) DDT i§ non-biodegradable. It willgyrfalcon eggs contain 3.88 parts per not break down by normal biologicalmillion. These changes in eggshell processes." (7)thickness and the pesticide residues REFERENCESreflect different degrees of exposure to 1. George Ott, "Is the Bald Eaglecontamination. There is a highly Doomed?" NATIONAL WILDLIFE,significant negative correlation between April-May, 1970, p. 5.shell and DDE content in peregrine eggs. 2. David B. Peakall, "Pesticides andTundra and taiga peregrines have the Reproduction of Birds," SCIEN-fledged progressively fewer young each TIFIC AMERICAN, April, 1970, p. 73.year since 1966." (5) 3. David B. Peakall, "Pesticides and
The significance of this study is ap- the Reproduction of B,irds," SCIEN-parent when one realizes that Alaska is TIFIC A~ERICAN, Ap~~l, 19?0: p. 77.the last stronghold of the peregrine 4. David B. ~eakall, .Pest~~ldes andfalcon. The peregrine was once widely the Reproduction of ~Irds, SCIEN-distributed across the continent. Now TIFIC AMERICAN, April, 1970, P;, 77.there are none east of the Mississippi and 5.. T. J. Cade, and others, DD~only a few in the western states. The Residues and Eggshell Changes I~decline of the falcons can be directly Alaskan Falcons and Hawks,attributed to the exteme use of SCIENCE, May 28, 1971, p. 955. "
t' 'd 6. T. J. Cade, and others, DDEpes ICI es. Residues and Eggshell Changes in
The peregrine feeds on primary and Alaskan Falcons and Hawks"secondary predators that are high in SCIENCE, May 28, 1971, p. 956. '
pesticide residues. The tundra and taiga 7. George -Ott, "Is the Bald Eagleperegrines migrate long distances and Doomed1" NATIONAL WILDLIFE,are thereby exposed to contaminated April-May, 1970, p.6.areas. The Aleutian peregrine does not S h Dak .migrate and feeds on a relatively pure out ota NestIngmarine food chain. The gyrfalcon (Continued from Page 61)remains in the arctic regions and feeds had time to check all the old records toon herbivorous lemmings and voles. It see if they ever nested before, but this ismigrates as far south as the northern the first time in several years. PerhapsUnited States. Thus, the relative they will try again next year and bepesticide levels can be explained by the successful.birds' eating and migratory habits. (6) Sincerely,
Our use of pesticides has put many Conrad A. Fjetland, Acting Refugebirds of prey in danger of extinction. We Manager, Lacreek National Wildlifeare very slowly bringing about Refuge, Martin, S. Dak.legislative action to prevent futher (The only reason I can give for thedamage to our environment. But even if herons would be the fact that there arewe can stop the manufacture of DDT and very few trees on the refuge, and thoseban its use, there is still no guarantee that are there are quite high enough forthat we can save endangered species. the herons.-EMS)SEPTEMBER, 1972 63
r
Bobolinks
Some Recent Black Hills ObservationsN.R.Whitney
THE BOBOLINK (Dolichonox oryziv. bottomland meadows of Middle Box EI.orBs) is a characteristic species of der Creek, precisely 0.5 miles south oftall-grass prairies and alfalfa fields, rea- the junction of U.S. 385 with the roadsonably numerous throughout South to Roubaix Lake. On June 25, 1970, andDakota prairies, but much less numer. on June 20, 1971, while censusing theous in the Black Hills. When Dr. Pet- Roubaix Lake Breeding-Bird Surveytingill and I were compiling known route (S.D. No. 27), I heard the dis.records of occurence in 1963, the only tinctive Bobolink song at Stop No.2,observations that we could find were which is on the Ernest Rantapaa ranch.one of his near Rapid City and one of I recorded two in 1970 and one in IDilger's near Deadwood. We added a 1971. Since I stopped at this spot ex- Ithird east of Spearfish on June 15, actly 25 minutes before official sun-1964, so that in "The Birds of the Black rise, and since the procedure for theHills" (1965), we were able to cite a Breeding-Bird Survey limits the timetotal of three observations. spent at anyone stop, I was unable to
, .'"S h D confirm this observation' visually.Mary Rantapaa s note m out a- From my observations above and
kota Bir~ Notes" for March, 1972 (~age from Mary Rantapaa's report, I b'elieve19) remmded me of thr~e oc~aslons that Bobolinks may occur in the Blackwhen I. hav~ seen Bobo~m~s m the Hills in wet meadows in small numbersBlack HIlls smce the publIcation of the during the breeding season, especiallybook. These should be on record. between mid-June and mid-July. Possi-
1965 was a wet year, and on July 4 bly, however, the Black Hills meadowsof that year I found two singing males may be marginal habitat from the Bob-in a canyon-bottom meadow adjacent olink point of view, and thus the malesto the Doty School in Box Elder Can- that we have observed may not haveyon, about five miles northwest of Ra. been able to attract mates. Thereforepid City on the Nemo Road, still in we still do not know whether Bobo-Pennington County. On July 14, 1965, links actually breed in the Black Hills.I returned to the same area and found Do Bobolinks come to the Black Hillsone singing male. Although I spent every year? While this is an impossi-several minutes searching for a nest ble question to answer accurately, Ire.in this area, I was unable to find one. call a comment that Roger Tory Peter-I did not see any females, and possibly son made during one of our field tripsthe male had established a territory during the Wilson Ornithological Socie-here, but had never been joined by a ty meeting in the Black Hills in June,female. The vegetation here was pri- 1965, to the effect that in wet years,marily a purple lupine (alfalfa?) with eastern species tend to move and breeda strong mixture of bindweed (Convol. further west, while in dry years, west-vulns). The location is about one-quar- ern species tend to move and breedter mile south of a bridge over Box further east. Thus, we could expect theElder Creek. BoboliDk, primarily an eastern species,
The other two observations were both to come to the Black Hills during thein southern Lawrence County in the years of higher spring moisture.64 SOUTH DAKOTA BIRD NOT~S
Birds Nesting Around St. Martin's AcademySister Georgine Essert
ST. MARTIN'S ACADEMY is a high nest. At least four robin nest locationsschool for girls. The physical plant is a are known of; a couple of these boasted ofcomplex of buildings located in a two families during the 1972 season. Treepeaceful valley three and one-half miles swallows nested in one of the yellow birdnorthwest of Rapid City, just a half mile houses and in the clothes line pipe.west of Sturgis Road. The 40-acre plot is Mountain blue birds, while not toocovered with l?:°nderosa pine with cedar numerous in the spring, reared at least
.I and juniper underbrush, forming, as it six families on our grounds this summer,I were, a natural wildlife refuge. The city making the bluebird population the
extended its boundaries in 1961 to include highest of all the passerines in our a~ea.St. Martin's within city limits. In mid-Maya pair of Eastern BluebIrds
..was sighted, but these evidently did notThe only type of hunting and shooting remain to nest here.
allowed is that done by camera fans. In the woods farther from theBesides all man~er of b~rd life~ there are buildings, nighth~wks are numerous.also many specIes of field mIce, voles, While walking through the woods atand ground squirrels, rabbits, marm~ts, twilight, one must be careful not to stepand a small herd of ungulate.s foraging on the ground doves that dwell there, asthrough the trees. I~ ~he wlnte.r deer was the experience of one of the Sisterscome close to the buIldings looking for last August. Black-capped chickadees,food and shelter. Deer tracks as w~ll as tree sparrows, chipping sparrow, redwild turkey tracks have been found In t~e and yellow shafted flickers all nest in oursnow as close as 25 feet from our patio. woods. At least one family of black billed
At. ?ur Easter Sunri~e Ser,:ice,. it is magpies nested and reared their young intradItional. that w~ ~gln the ~Ightlng of our trees, and these carnivores helpedthe New FIre outsIde In the chIll dawn of decrease the bluebird population,the spring morning. Just as traditional devouring at least two young bluebirdsduring the service, is the not-to-dista~t on our grounds. Morning doves, hawks,mating call of th~ pheasant co~k as h.e IS owls, starlings, crows, blackbirds andawakened from hIS grassy bed In the field English sparrows roost in our woods. Ineast of the chapel. June a lazuli bunting was seen feeding on
Western Meadowlarks are plentiful the grass seeds of the prairie grassfrom April through June. Perhaps only growing along the fence. Goldfinch and aone pair nested on our grounds this year. bluewinged warbler h~ve a~so been!Robins, finding the lawn filled with their spotted. Many other sp~cI.es of ~Irds .h.avetype of dietary delicacies, remained to been seen but not definItely Identified.
I
SEPTEMBER. 1972 65
I A Calendar for West-River Bird Studyi
i N.R.Whitney
-JANUARY- Otherwise still winter, Pinon Jays mayPrairies: Look for Horned Larks, nest in April,
Longspurs and Snow Buntings, Also -MA Y-dirurnal raptors, such as Rough-legged Entire remainder of migration occurs,Hawks and Eagles, Watch for Snowy Watch especially for Lark Buntings andOwls, Kingbirds in the prairies, and warblers in
Stream-bottoms: Look for wood- the Black Hills, Common Nighthawkspeckers, chickadees, and juncos, and Western Wood Pewees usually arrive
Black Hills: Corvids, chickadees, at very end of month, Watch for nestingnuthatches, and juncos are all con- at lower elevations,spicuous winter residents, Look also for -JUNE-Red Crossbills in pines and Gray- Main nesting period, Watch forcrowned Rosy Finches along roads, territorial behavior and nests in all
habitats and at all elevations,-FEBRUARY- JULY-
Open Water: Goldeneyes and Prairies: Record whatever bird ac-Mergansers may move north at the first tivity is observed, We really know verysign of warm weather, Pintails and other little about how priairiebirds live in mid-early migrants may appear, summer, Watch especially for flocking of
Residential areas: Flocks of Bohemian curlews and others, and for southboundWaxwings and Evening Grosbeaks may shorebirds,appear, Watch for early Robins, Black Hills: Look for nesting at higher
Black Hills: Red Crossbills may nest in elevations, especially Terry Peak,favorable years, Harney Peak, and Black Fox Camp-
-MARCH- ground,Prairies: Watch for migrating -AUGUST-
waterfowl on stock ponds as soon as they At all elevations, note all activities, Atthaw, Killd~er, Western ,Meadowlark, this time, young are in family groups,and Red-wmged BlackbIrds usually and fall flocking is beginning, Recordappear sometime during March, observation dates of all insectivorous
Black Hills: Mountain Bluebirds arrive birds, such as nighthawks, flycatchers,in open areas on edge of pine forests, vireos, and warblers, since some wiD
-APRIL- leave before the end of the month,h ' f S -SEPTEMBER- Prairies: Look for courts IP 0 age , ,
d Sh t ' I d G use Long - b illed Record all observatIons of mIgratory
an arp- al e ro , "
t 1 t '
Curlews, Upland Plovers, and Burrowing spe~Ies, sInce mos ~ave some Ime
Owls arrive on territory, Brewer's durIng the, month, Later m month, watchBl kb ' ds d V er Sparrows may for SandhIll Cranes,
ac Ir an esp -OCTOBER-arrive late in month, Peak of waterfowl M ' S dh'll C ' t '
L ok' t ' am an I rane mlgra lon, 0
mlgra lon, f R gh1 d H k ' , , d"d t d b h' Watch or ou -egge aw s m praIrIes, anStream-sl e rees an rus, ' df '1 f G kl T whees a n d for hardy summer resl ents, such as
or arrlva 0 rac es, 0 , R b' M t ' Bl b' d dWhite-crowned and Lincoln's Sparrows, 0 ms, oun am , ue, Ir s, anBlack Hills: Myrtle and Audubon Western Meadowlarks m suItable areas.
Warblers arrive late at lower elevations, (Continued on Page 72)66 SOUTH DAKOTA BIRD NOTES
I Book ReviewJ.W.Johnson
, FAMILY LIFE of Birds. Photographs swer is that they do. I was particularly
an<l text by Hans D. Dossenbach. interested in the words of the book'sI McGraw-Hill 1971. 192 pages, including Scientific Advisor, Dr. Otto Koenig: "I~
Foreword and Index. Profusely do not know anyone who photographs asillustrated with color photographs, many Dossenbach does. His lenses obviou~lyfull pagp closeups, color diagrams and function differently from other opticalgraphs. 73/4"X 101/2". Green cloth. $12.95. systems: the camera, as well as being an
For a time after this book was instrument for depicting what he sees,received, I kept it where I could page serves him as an interpretive vehicle forthrough it occasionally as time allowed, his thoughts and dreams. There is noto get the feel of it. The result was that I, other explanation for the strangleynot being a strong character, often lyrical quality of his pictures. He turnsbecame lost in it for longer than I had every photograph into a story, an ac-time to spare. count of nature."
Much can be said for the book, more For myself, after years of less thanthan space will allow. But a caveat happy attempts at making pictures ofperhaps is best placed here: lavish birds, I could never escape the thought of! illustrations, appealing color how many pictures must have beenI photographs of young birds and parents, considered and discarded, out of the
I with summaries of many aspects of the vastly greater number made, for each
subtopics, even the author's warnings of accepted for use in this book. It is a factundescribed complexities of each, of life for the wildlife photographer-thatsomehow create the illusion of im- probably seldom occurs to anyone else.possibly complete coverage, even of the The author is German and wrote insmall fraction of the some 8,000 known German. His text is compact and in-species mentioned. Yet it gives a most formative, fully adequate. The trans-enticing glimpse of a Promised Land of lator, Fritz Bauchwitz, has done a firstever increasing knowledge of the subject. rate job, leaving no evidence that the
A book with this title, given modern original work was not in English.photographic techniques, could hardly In addition to the pictures of young andescape being a picture book. The author, adult birds there are pictures of eggs andbeing perhaps first a photographer, has a picture series of an egg in progressivewelcomed the necessity and gladly made stages of incubation, pictures of itsit so, but with extensive text and graphic hatching, ending with a double pageillustrations that provide good picture of the chick almost dry. There isbackground for the emotional impact of a section devoted to bird song and its rolehis pictures. Most of his graphics are in the mating game, with a double pageclear, though some are a bit complex as of sonagrams (called sound spec-color is used to give additional dimen- trograms here) with songs and calls ofsions of data, toward a maximum of five species and four purposes orinformation in the space, surely a good meaning each to bring out the widefault where the field is practically differences, as well as similaritieslimitless. with purpose, among species.
As a book whose first appeal is in its Sections of smaller pictures showpictures, perhaps a question is justified: closeups of courting behavior, dances,do the pictures carry the load? My an- (Continued on Page 72)SEPTEMBER. 1972 67,l
Looking at the golden-breasted glossy starling in the World of Birds at the BronxZoo, it is hard to believe that this colorful bird, native to Africa, is related to thecommon starling, a well-known pest in the United States, which was introduced fromEurope in 1890, much to everyone's later regret.-( New York Zoological Photo by BillMeng)
68 SOUTH DAKOTA BIRD NOTES
~tli N fJtes fJf S peci till n~
FATIGUED WARBLER, NAIVE happy group, they flew up and went~ YOUNG BLUEBIRD-One Saturday searching for safer surroundings. Sup-
morning in mid-September I ran posing he had discovered a secure perch,downstairs and outside to shake my a young bluebird alighted on mydustmoJ>. Walking between the buildings, binoculars directly in front of my eyes.
~ I nearly stepped on a young warbler (as "What are you doing here?" I asked.nearly as I could identify it, it was a The bluebird merely cocked his head in aProthonotary warbler) which had nonchalant fashion. I held the binocularsplopped, wings awry, in the grass near out farther and then brought them downthe greenhouse. I spoke to the bird, but it in front of my chin in order to get a betterdid not move. Walking on a few more view of my young friend and to allow himyards I hastily shook my mop and to see me. He seemed very complacentreturned to the bird wondering what and self-assured, more intent on warm-could be wrong with it. Most birds, unless ing his feet on my binoculars than onthey are very young and naive, will not investigating my nose which loomed overremain conspicuously sitting on the lawn him like a living Mount Rushmore. Heand allow human beings to walk over paid little attention to my moving souththem. I spoke again to it, while taking and to the words which I spoke softly tonote of its complacent sprawled position him. He chirped to me occasionally.and saw one downy yellow feather loose Mter 10 minutes had elapsed, theand askew on the side of its breast. I youngster's parents alighted on the roofreached down and picked up the bird. It of the dietary building, 10 yards away.immediately changed its composure- They spoke in harsh, commanding notes,mine also changed! The warbler seemed and within a few minutes, my little friendvery much alive, awake, and healthy left his black plastic perch and joined hisand it did not hesitate to tell me so. As elders on the blue metal roof margin offar as I was able to diagnose, in the the eaves, from hence the tongue-lashingmoment that I held it, it had no broken discipline commenced.bones. Releasing the excited bird Try as I have, since this incident, Iallowed it free flight to the top of the have had no luck in getting this close toI novitiate entrance-and from there, Friend Bluebird or in convincing himwithin seconds it took off into the woods that I'm not as dangerous as I look andbehind our buildings. that his parents lied to him with warnings
Bluebirds are common around our of death and tragedy if he happens to sitgrounds at St. Martin's. One chilly on my shoulder or again perch on my
'I Sunday morning in mid-August, I was binoculars.-Sister Georgine Essert,sitting on a window ledge between the Rapid City, S. Dak.novitiate building and the dietary wing, * * * *scanning the area with my binoculars CATTLE EGRET IN FAULK COUNTYand attempting to identify the various -May 3, 1972, I saw a Cattle Egret flyspecies of small sparrows which were across the road that goes between Northbusy feeding in the grass on the warm and South Scatterwood Lakes, in north.south side of the building. When a car east corner of Faulk County-Haroldbacking out of the garage frightened the W. WagarSEPTEMBER,1972 69
NRW's Field Note ProcedureN. R. Whitney, Jr.
IN 1953, I had the opportunity of trips can of course eliminate thisreading Pettingill's Laboratory and disadvantage, and in addition wouldField Manual of Ornithology. He provide a useful cross-index.suggested a field notebook for the The essential supplies needed to makebeginning student in ornithology, and I my procedure operate efficiently are (1)have adapted it to my own needs as a one or more notebooks small enough tomethod of keeping notes on my field be carried conveniently in the field, andobservations of birds. -(2) captioning of a page for each species
Pettingill's suggestion is that the likely to be seen before going into thestudent carry a loose-leaf notebook and field. In addition, the pages should besome sort of a daily field card or arranged in an order such that tile ob-checklist. The student can then indicate server can find a particular specieson the field card each species that he quickly and without undue searching.sees. Then he can write down in the Personally, I use the AOU Checklistnotebook his '!Eservations, including the order (exactly as in the Peterson Field-date seen, the identifying marks, the Guides and approximately as in thehabitat, and any other notes concerning Robbins, Bruun, and Zim guide) but thisthe species that he wants to record. He is strictly personal, and should be setshould, however, have a separate sheet tQ the convenience of the observer.in the notebook for each species seen. Finally, I find that under field con-
In my modifications of Dr. Pettingill's ditions, my handwriting is sometimesapproach, I use two looseleaf notebooks, difficult to read, and therefore Ieach measuring 3x5 inches, with a page periodically transcribe my notes ontocaptioned in advance for each species 81/2xll-inch sheets by typewriter.-N. R.that I anticipate seeing. Practically, this Whitney * * * *means that I have one page for each Sept. 13, 1972species regularly found at any time of the Mrs. Edward Drissenyear in western South Dakota. I then The Heatherton, Apt. 209have a third notebook in which I record 4100 Parklawn Ave.more general information on each field Edina, Minn. 55435trip, including localities visited, weather Dear Mrs. Drissen:conditions, seasonal aspects of I was surprised to find the large pile oforganisms other than birds, and names South Dakota Bird Notes which you leftof field companions. I never have or mailed to the store. This material hasacquired the habit of using field cards, all been placed in the library of the Southbut I would recommend it for anyone who Dakota Ornithological Union where itlikes to be able to review later the list will be kept in a safe place.from a particular day. On behalf of the S.D.O.U. we certainly
The major advantage of my procedure want to thank you for this very fine gift.is that I have all my observations on any Some of the back numbers are getting inone species together and in chronological short supply and this is a very fine ad-order when I want to review them. One dition.disadvantage, which to me is minor, is Sincerely yours,that the observations from a day's bird- Herman P. Chilson,ing are scattered throughout the Librarian, South Dakotanotebook. The use of field cards on all Ornithological Union70 SOUTH DAKOTA BIRD NOTES
1).
.,";,:t.!!!!
:~~,,;,
:~: Notes from Sparks' Mini-Ranchi
GRASSHOPPERS INVADED the Hills old age. I hope no one gives us a boathis summer, legions of them, constrictor or an alligator.
f reminiscent of the dirty thirties. Last week we saw our first flock of wildGrasshoppers follow dry weather, or so I turkeys, at least 25 of assorted sizes, allthought, but this wasn't a dry year. scurrying into the timber. I hope they
Anyway, because of the grasshoppers, find a secluded spot in the deep woodsfriends from town brought us two ducks, before the turkey season opens.five weeks old and just getting their Don Adolphson, co~tor of BIRDpermanent feathers. NOTES and the authority on birds has
They took to the creek with evident joy presented his resignation in this issue.and foUnd the only way out of the yard.by D9n has given many hours out of his busyswimming under the fence which life to the obtaining of copy and screeningnecessitated a fence building project it for each issue of this magazine. He is aaround the culvert. Next they foUnd the stickler for accuracy and has workedculvert which brings our spring-fed creek to maintain the hif,h standards of BIRDunder the road so that had to have a wire NOTES He will be very difficult toframe. replace.
The creek was their domain but My contribution is mechanical. I sendspasmodically they waddled up the ba~ the screened copy to the publisher, thenand inhaled grasshoppers. For all their proof read and fashion the printedclumsy walk they were demons of attack galleys into pages, add the pictures,and the agile grasshopper stood no index, etc., etc., and return the dummychance as the long necks shot out and !he to the publisher. The result is yourbills clicked shut. We thought of renting quarterly, BIRD NOTESthem out by the hour. It would be most interesting to take one
Domesticated ducks apparently are issue of this magazine and estimate thedescended from the wild mallard, the number of hours of volunteer labor itexception being the Muscovy duck. Our represents.Mike and Ike look like wild mallards with First figure the time spent by eachtheir wings tipped with green and black contributor in getting his information,bars but they are larger and have no the hours spent tramping through thecolor on their heads. woods and fields, or returning again and
Soaked bread and cracked corn form again to some special tree to watch the; their diets-1 set the dish in the creek as nesting process, or the combined hours of., they like to wash the corn down. With bird watching and book checking to get
winter setting in and the grasshopper one of the compilations that Esther Serr; crop diminishing they demand extra so painstakingly puts together.~ feedings and come quacking to the house
N dd th h t t . t f I !'
t t II ow a e ours a a ypewn er, ew,I 0 e us so. . f t .b t t .
ts bThe carpenter of the family is building I any. con n u. ors are yplS .Y
, them a shelter in answer to our wise ~rofes.slon. Consider how many di~-,; friends who want to know when we will be tlonarles are worn out, and then Don s1" having a duck dinner. I'm sure they will pa~t, my part, and l~st that of Herman
be a bother this winter, needing warm Chilson who must mall and address eachwater, fresh bedding and all that, but copy.I am also sure that they will live to a ripe Equally important are the otherSEPTEMBER,1972 71
details, our cover artist who draws a bit Calendof himself into each drawing, and Nelda arHolden who has the thankless job of (Continued from Page 66)trying to make the money from dues Wi.nter waterfowl concentration begins tostretch to cover publication costs. Think build up at Canyon Lake. Watch any openof the hours spent in planning t~e water for gulls.meetings and the president's part in -NOVEMBER-keeping the wheels turning, or the Wa~erfowl migration at height,secretaries in handling the correspon- especially at Canyon Lake and otherdence. All these many hours of pains- open water. Watch for Bald Eagles alongtaking work are volunteered, surely each Missouri River and in Custer State Parkissue is a labor of love. when bison are being slaughtered. Watch
for northern winter residents, such asWhUt; you are ~mking ab~u.t It ask Rosy Finches, Redpolls, and Snow
your frIends and neighb~rs to Jom SDOU Buntings, along roadsides both inso we can spread all this love around. prairies and in the Black Hills.
That's "30" for now -DECEMBER-
.Watch for all wintering species.-N. R.
Whitney
Book Report(Continued from Page 67)
and rituals of various species, often so New Editors Needed
close and well done one wonders aboutthe " methods and equipment. After these At the end of 1972 I will retire as Co-
triumphs a series showing peacocks Editor for South Dakota Bird Notes. It'sdisplaying, that would be trite in the been truly a rewarding experience and Iwork of anyone else, closeups of their admit to a great reluctance to leave.heads and faces-and personalities- Nevertheless, I have become limitedseems not at all overdone. with things I can do with the short time I
have free.Various full page photographs I would Working for SDOU is exciting and
like on our walls:a pair of Swallow-tailed rewarding, and I am grateful for havinggulls; a family of Blue Titmice being fed had the opportunity to be Co-Editor. Iin. their n~st; Blue-footed Boobly parents know that my successor, not yet iden-w~th their one chick between them; tified, will enjoy the work as much as IRmged Plovers on a beach; a head and did. I will continue to accept articles toneck of a peacock; nesting Kittywakes on Bird Notes until a new Co-Editor is ap-the cliffs of the Farne Islands off the east pointed.coast of England-and others. -Don G. Adolphson
Of course we could wish for a similar In the spirit of sharing a good thing Ibook devoted primarily to North have decided to add my resignation toAmerican Birds, though they do get a that of Don. I have thoroughly enjoyedgood share of attention in this one. The putting BIRD NOTES together and havefield covered is world wide, from largest enjoyed working with Don but I am sureto smallest, and from Tinamous to it is time for a change.Passerine. It will likely be a long time I will continue to handle my part of thebefore a better summary of the subject is editorship until a new editor is appointed.made.-Huron -Winona Sparks72 SOUTH DAKOTA BIRD NOTES
SOUTH DAKOTA BIRD NOTES
Official Publication
of
SOUTH DAKOTA ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION
(Organized 1949)
Vol. XXIV, No.4 DECEMBER, 1972 Whole No. 95
Red-winged Blackbirds-Wayne Trimm
--
South Dakota Bird Notes, the Organ of South Dakota Ornithologists' Union, is sent toall members whose dues are paid for the current year. Sustaining Members $10.00,Adults $4.00; Juniors (10-16) $200. Family Membership (husband and wife) with onesubscription to Bird Notes $6.00. Libraries (subscription) $4.00. Single and backcopies: Members $1.00, Non-members $1.50. All dues should be remitted to theTreasurer, Nelda Holden, Route 1, Box 80, Brookings, S. Dak. 57006. All manuscriptsfor publication should be sent to Co-Editor Don Adolphson, 2604 Arrowhead Drive,Rapid City, S. Dak. 57701. Orders for back numbers should be sent to the Librarian,Herman P. Chilson, Webster, S. Dak. 57274. Published Quarterly.
Vol. XXIV, No.4 December, 1972 Whole No. 95
In This Number. ..
President's Page, Byron Harrell 75Some Birds of Jackson County, South Dakota, Keith E. Evans
andRogerR.Kerbs 76Band Recovery-Return Distribution of Common Grackles and Robins
from South Dakota, Harold W. Wagar 78SDOU Winter Meeting-Brookings, November 4, 1972, L. M. Baylor 80Study Ornithology at Home, Cornell University 81Book Reviews, J. W. Johnson 82General Notes of Special Interest: Dearth of Lark Buntings in Day
County 1971-1972, Boreal Chickadee in Brookings County, Boreal Chickadee inDeuel County, Wood Duck Nests on White River, Red Crossbills NearWebster, Sight Records for Scissor-tailed Flycatcher and Magpie in DeuelCounty, Prairie Falcon in Day County, Fox Sparrow Observationsin the Huron Area 83
OFFICERS 1971-72
President Byron Harrell, 1215 Valley View Circle, Vermillion 57069Vice-President Bruce Harris, Clear Lake 57266Secretary June Harter, Highmore 57345Treasurer Nelda Holden, Rt. 1, Box 80, Brookings 57006Co-editor Winona Sparks, Nemo 57759Co-editor Don Adolphson, 2604 Arrowhead Drive, Rapid City 57701Librarian Herman P. Chilson, Webster 57274
DIRECTORSFor Term Expiring 1972: Byron Harrell, Vermillion; J. W. Johnson, Huron; Herbert Krause,
Sioux Falls; B. J. Rose, Pierre; June Harter, Highmore.
For Term Expiring 1973: Bill Lemons, Meckling; Charles Rogge, Sioux Falls; Don Adolphson,Rapid City; Nelda Holden, Brookings; Lee Eberly, Vermillion.
For Term Expiring 1974: Herman Chilson, Webster; Will Rosine, Sioux Falls; Bruce Harris,Clear Lake; N. R. Whitney Jr., Rapid City; L. M. Baylor, Rapid City.
74 SOUTH DAKOTA BIRD NOTES
L President's Ptlge ~IN THE last issue of "South Dakota consider changes which may be helpful
Bird Notes our readers were informed of editorially, scientifically, or for thethe impending retirement of the present reader, and which can be implementedCo-editors, Don Adolphson and Winona reasonably. I might include a fewSparks. I am sure you will all join me in examples. A simple one and one that canexpressing our sincere thanks and ap- be done easily is the change from in-preciation for their work over the last dicating Volume numbers by Romanthree and one-half years. The Board of numerals to Arabic numbers. Nearly allDirectors has been searching for scientific journals have made thissomeone who can take over and we ex- change for the simple reason that errorspect to come to a conclusion very shortly. in citation are especially prevalent with
We are sure everyone will Roman numerals. Anyone who has had tohelp make this change a spend hours searching for a referencesmooth transition. inaccurately cited can appreciate this
Most of our readers change. Another simple change could behave not had editorial the addition of the address of the authorchores so few can ap- at the start of an article to facilitatepreciate the time and correspondence by an interested reader.energy required. Some Inclusion of the volume number alongtime ago I read a short with the journal name at the bottom ofpaper on costs of the page would be a convenience, es-publication in a national pecially for those using the journal in aherpetological journal. Of library where several volumes may becourse our problems are bound together. Should we avoid
rather different, but the figures are still "Continued on ..."? This might wasteinteresting. If all the free labor were paid space or require starting some articles infor, their price per page of print was the middle of a page. Is the type size used$72!! Of this costs which occurred the best? Should we retain the doubleBEFORE printing (which are often nev- column format? Should we institute aer paid for) were $42. We can, however, system of regional reviewers? There arekeep our costs below these in various many more that might be considered.ways, but in our case the proportionswould probably be similar. In other From what I said before, the job of thewords, although we all feel we are Editor is busy enough without analyzinghelping publish our journal when we pay these questions and coming to a decision.our dues, EVERY dues payment is more I believe, however, that some of these orthan matched by the time given by our others should be on the agenda of theeditors. We need the effort of our authors, Board of Directors for consideration withbut before their words are preserved for new and past Editors. I believe we have aposterity, we need and value our Editors. good journal; it can only be better by
At a time of change of Editors, some giving the matter careful thought. Anyconsideration can be given to other ideas you have which should be con-features of the journal. It is not my point sidered by the Board of Directors can behere to suggest more difficulties for sent to me or given to other Boardanyone taking over the reins, but to members.-Byron E. Harrell
DECEMBER,1972 7S
,
--
(I)
Some Birds of Jackson County, South Dakotaby Keith E. Evans and Roger R. Kerbs
(1) CONTRIBUTION OF the Rocky an average of 11.4 waterfowl per pondMountain Forest and Range Experiment visit. Mallards, the most abundant duck,Station, Rapid City, South Dakota. Field accounted for 30.8 percent of allStation maintained in cooperation with waterfowl observed (Table 1). Blue-South Dakota School of Mines and winged Teal ranked 2nd in abundance.Technology; headquarters at Fort The eight most abundant species, ex-Collins, Colorado, in cooperation with cluding the Green-winged Teal andColorado State University. American Widgeon, are the most com-
Birds were counted in a portion of mon nesters within the area and,Jackson County from 1966 through 1971. therefore, were counted on nearly everyObservations were concentrated on or visit. Although the two preceding speciesnear 12 selected stock ponds to sample are known nesters, the bulk of their totalwaterfowl and shorebird use on small count was tallied during migrations.man-made water developments in west- Migrants such as Lesser Scaup, Com-ern South Dakota. Ob~ervations were mon Merganser, Ring-necked Duck, andmade once every two weeks throughout Bufflehead were abundant during thethe ice-free period of each year. The spring and-fJr fall counts, but were notponds are located in the area of Jackson observed during the summer. WaterfowlCounty bounded on the north by U.S. 14, count was highest in 1967 when a peak inon the south by Interstate 90, and on the teal numbers (1,266) contributedeast by S.D. 73. significantly to the 3,010 waterfowl ob-
FINDINGS served. In 1967, 953 Blue-winged Teal andThe area was observed 98 timea in the 313 Green-winged Teal were counted.
six-year period for an average of 16 The peak year for Gadwall (216) andobservations per year. Detailed ob- M.allard (1,085) occurred in 1968.servation data for 1966 were published in During the six-year study period, 1,066SDBN (Evans and Kerbs 1967). (2) shorebirds were counted on the study
(2) Keith E. Evans and Roger R. ponds for an average of 0.9 bird per pondKerbs. Waterfowl and shorebird use on visit. Most of the shorebirds observedselected stock ponds in Jackson County: were migrants, and were only seen on1966. South Dakota Bird Notes 19(2) :28- two or three visits per season. Killdeer,30, 1967. very common nesters throughout the
Fifty-eight avian species were ob- area and not restricted to marsh or pondserved in 1966. The list has increased to habitats, are listed on the checklist but115 species over the six-year period. The not included in the shorebird count. Thebird list has been divided into the Wilson's Phalarope, Long-billed Curlew,following three categories for this paper: and Upland Plover were the other most(1) waterfowl seen on the study ponds; common nesters. Wilson's Phalaropes(2) shorebirds seen on or near the study accounted for 27 percent of the shorebirdponds; and (3) birds seen in the area but count (Table 2). Baird's Sandpipers werenot necessarily using a study pond. In- the most abundant migrating shorebird.dividual birds were counted for the first Sixty-two other bird species observedtwo categories, but not the third. in the area comprised the largest of the
During the 98 visits to the 12 study three categorized species lists. Birds inponds, 13,432 waterfowl were counted for this category were not recorded as being
76 SOUTH DAKOTA BIRD NOTESI
associated with a particular pond, but Willet 1.0were checked on a dated checklist (Table Species accounting for less than one3). percent each of total count include:
Table 1.-Species and abundance of Black-crowned Night Heronwaterfowl observed on 12 stock ponds in American BitternJackson County, South Dakota: 1966-71 Sora
Percent of total Common SnipeSpecies waterfowl counted Solitary SandpiperMallard 30.8 Buff-breasted SandpiperBlue-winged Teal 26.5 SanderlingPintail 8.5 American AvocetGadwall 7.2 Northern PhalaropeGreen-winged Teal 6.8 Ring-billed GullAmerican Widgeon 4.7 Franklin's GullAmerican Coot 2.7 Forster's TernPied-billed Grebe 2.3 Common TernCommon Merganser 1.4 Belted KingfisherShoveler 1.2 Water PipitRedhead 1.1 Sprague's Pipit
Species accounting for less than one Table 3.-Other bird species observedpercent each of total count include: in Jackson County, South Dakota: 1966-71Horned Grebe Snowy Egret (1) +Eared Grebe Trumpeter Swan(l)Western Grebe Turkey Vulture (5)Double-crested Cormorant Sharp-shinned Hawk (1)Canada Goose Red-tailed Hawk (6)Ring-necked Duck Swainson's Hawk (6)Canvasback Rough-legged Hawk (6)Lesser Scaup Ferruginous Hawk (2)Bufflehead Golden Eagle (5)Ruddy Duck Marsh Hawk (6)Hooded Merganser Prairie Falcon (5)Common Goldeneye Sparrow Hawk (6)
Table 2.-Species and abundance of Sharp-tailed Grouse (6)shorebirds observed on 12 stock ponds in Ring-necked Pheasant (5)Jackson County, South Dakota: 1966-71 Killdeer (6)
Percent of total Rock Dove (2)Species shorebirds counted Mourning Dove (6)Wilson's Phalarope 27.0 Great Horned Owl (5)Long-billed Curlew 13.4 Burrowing Owl (2)Baird's Sandpiper 13.2 Common Nighthawk (6)Lesser Yellow legs 11.0 Yellow-shafted Flicker (5)Upland Plover 8.4 Red-shafted Flicker (4)Semipalmated Sandpiper 4.3 Red-headed Woodpecker (1)Great Blue Heron 3.9 Hairy Woodpecker (1)Long-billed Dowitcher 3.8 Eastern Kingbird (6)Greater Yellow legs 2.1 Western Kingbird (6)Least Sandpiper 1.9 Say's Phoebe (1)Spotted Sandpiper 1.7 Horned Lark (6)Pectoral Sandpiper 1.2Black Tern 1.2 (Continued on PageS1)
DECEMBER,1972 77
Band Recovery-Return Distribution
of C,ommon Grackles and Robins \
from South Dakotaby Harold W. Wagar
DURING THE past 39 years I have birds of the 988 are shown to have livedbanded 111 species at banding stations in six years after banding. The table alsothe following towns of South Dakota: Dell shows that the first year there is theRapids, Alexandr~a, Ethan, Pierre, information on the 78 grackles (7.9Brookings, Milbank, Winner, Sturgis, percent) and only information on 29 (2.9Aberdeen, and Cresbard. percent) the second year. This illustrates
I have concentrated on banding the the tremendous mortality rate during thecommon migrants and local residents, first and second years. The chance ofthe birds I know best. I have been for- having a recovery for 1,000 grackles istunate in being able to have collected only 0.3 percent five years after banding.enough returns and recoveries on Recoveries from out of state include 16Common Grackles and Robins which I grackles that were banded during thebelie,:,e are of value and worth reportil!g. months of May, June, August, andAlso Included are out-Qf-state recoveries September and were recovered inof marsh ha~k, yellow-shafted .nicker, December, January, February, March,slate-colored Junco, cedar waxwing and April, and May in the following states:starling. Iowa (1), Louisiana (4), Arkansas (2),
Band recovery distribution indicates Oklahoma (4), and Texas (5). Allthat grackles and robins migrate from recoveries were within the first or secondSouth Dakota south through the Great year after banding. The winteringPlains to their winter grounds in Texas, grounds of the grackles is in Louisiana,Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma. Arkansas Oklahoma and Texas. The
For this article I have defined that a Iowa rec~very was in April which in-return is any bird that is retrapped at the dicates that this bird was migratingsame station after the first year of northward.banding. A recovery is a bird that isrecovered by any method away from thebanding station after the first year ofbanding. ROBINS .
I have returns and recoveries on 37robins of the 609 banded during the periodof 1933 to 1970 (see Table 2). The return-
COMMON GRACKLES recovery rate after banding was 6.1I have banded 988 Common Grackles percent for the first year, as compared to
and have return-recovery data on 78 (see the 7.9 percent for common grackles. AllTable 1). In this table, the upper line percentage figures for the robins ~rerepresents years the birds are known to lower than those of the grackles. !be alive. A bird banded in 1955 and The oldest robin was six years old andrecovered in 1961 is included in the totals information was received on four robinsfor the between years as well. Three after four years of banding.
78 SOUTH DAKOTA BIRD NOTES
)
COMMON GRACKLES RETURNS.RECOVERIESTABLcE 1 N 1 2 3 4 5 6 YEARS1931 8 1 11933 55 6 11934 53 5 2 11935 23 2 11936 2 11940 34 5 4 2 2 1 11941 145 6 21942 42 2 1 11943 33 3 3 2 2 1 11944 57 1 11945 20 1 11946 7 11954 46 6 1 11955 71 6 4 1 1 1 1 ";1959 18 21960 22 11961 40 3 11964 28 2 11965 72 5 2 11966 99 9 11967 77 7 2 2 21968 36 3Total 988 78 29 11 7 3 3Percentage 7.9% 2.9% 1.1% 0.7% 0.3% 0.3%
ROBINS RETURNS.RECOVERIESTABLE 2 N 1 2 3 4 5 6 YEARS1933 5 1 11934 28 5 21935 13 5 2 2 11940 4 11943 2 1 11946 17 21949 10 11953 22 11954 21 2 1 1 1 1 11957 31 3 11960 43 21964 15 11965 167 6 3 11966 95 2 1 11967 79 3 2 2 2 ,1969 57 1 1Total 609 37 15 7 4 1 1Percentage 6.1% 2.5% 1.2% 0.7% 0.2% 0.2%
(Continued on Page 81)
DECEMBER,1972 79
r )
SDOU Winter Meeting -Brookings
November 4, 1972ABOUT 40 MEMBERS and friends of SDOU has 282 members in 1972 and that
SDOU participated in the winter meet- the organization's financial condition ising, Nov. 4" 1972, at Brookings, South adequate to meet this year's publicationDakota. Nelda Holden deserves par- expenses. Continued loyal supportticular credit for arranging the meeting through 1973 membership renewals andand for organizing an exceptionally acquisition of new members shouldvaluable program, with many con- assure favorable operation of SDOU intributors from South Dakota State the coming year. Also during the busi-University. Presentations in the formal ness meeting, Bill Lemons was elected tosessions included: serve on the Board of Directors. Bill
"Effect of PCB on the Ring-necked replaces Dr. Keith Evans, who recentlyPheasant," by Bob Dahlgren. moved to Columbia, Missouri.
"Effect of Deldrin and PCB on Tentative plans call for holding the 1973Japanese Quails," by Dan Call. spring field-trip meeting somewhere in
"Physiological and Behavioral Effects the southwest quarter of the state. Checkof DDT and PCB on Pelicans," by Mrs. the March, 1973 issue of "Bird Notes" forYvonne Greichus. the specific announcement.
"Woodcock Nest in Brookings Coun- REGISTRATION LIST-BROOKINGSty," by John Gates. November 4, 1972
"Pelican Rookeries in South Dakota: A Armour-Mrs. Louise Crutchett andProgress Report," by Pat Mc Crow. Mrs. Victor Hawley.
"The Nesting Birds of Mohr Prairie, Brookings-orena Cooper, Mr. andMcPherson County, South Dakota," by Mrs. Dick Edie, Les Flake, GladysJohn Lokemoen. Froiland, Mr. and Mrs. John Haertel,
"A Survey of Burrowing Owls in Mr. and Mrs. John Gates, Dr. and Mrs.Mellette County, South Dakota," by David Holden, Mr. and Mrs. KennethCharles Berdan. Husmann, Mr. and Mrs. Bob Kieckhefer,
"Bird Banding Highlights with Em- Dr. and Mrs. Raymond Linder, Mr. andphasis on Returns and Recoveries," by Mrs. Pal Mc Crow, Carol Peterson andthe State Bird Banders. Dr. and Mrs. Charles Taylor.
"Highlights of AOU and IBBA Clear Lake-Mr. and Mrs. BruceMeetings," by Nat Whitney. Harris.
"An Idea and Some Comments," by Huron-Mr. and Mrs. J. W. JohnsonLouise Crutchett. and Mary Aberdeen Ketelle.
"The Black-footed Ferret," by Dr. Meckling-Bill Lemons.Raymond Linder, banquet speaker. Rapid City-L. M. Baylor and Dr. N. R.
The editors hope the contributors of the Whitney.above program items, many of them the Sioux Falls-Dr. Willard Rosine andresults of rE-search at SDSU, the Mr. and Mrs. Robert Trusler.Cooperative Wildlife Research Center, Vermillion-Dr. and Mrs. Byronand the Northern Prairie Wildlife Harrell and Mrs. Adelene Siljenberg.Research Station, will favor "Bird Webster-Herman Chilson.Notes" with papers for publication. Jamestown, North Dakota-Mr. and
During the business meeting, Mrs. John Lokemoen.Treasurer Nelda Holden announced that -L. M. Baylor, Rapid City80 SOUTH DAKOTA BIRD NOTES
)
.STUDY ORNITHOLOGY AT HOME-Some BIrds of Jackson The Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology at
.Cornell University is now offering a(Contrr,ued from Page m home study course in ornithology. The
nine seminars is a college-level course inBarn Swallow (5) a readable style which gives a sub-Cliff Sw.allow (5) .stantial background for the enjoymentBlack-bIlled Magpie (6) and appreciation of birds and encouragesCommon Crow (?) you to undertake study projects on yourBlack-capped Chickadee (1) own. Anyone interested should write forRock Wren (1) more details to: Laboratory of Or-Catbird (1) nithology, Cornell University, 159Brown Thrasher (6) Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, NewRobin (.3) .York 14850.Mountam Bluebird (2) --Loggerhead Shrike (6)Starling (5) .Yellow Warbler (1) Lark BuntmgHouse Sparrow (2) --"" c; :~c -E, ~'. SteffenWestern Meadowlark ~6) :~":""":~'::::-w1~Yello,,:-headed Bla~kbird (2) ;::::;;~~,~,:~:;:::::.Red-wmged Blackbird (6) '-..::., '-:'" ~Orchard Oriole (4)Bullock's Oriole (1) Band Recovery-ReturnBrewer's Blackbird (1) (Continued from Page 79)Common Grackle (4) Limited recovery information suggestsBrown-headed Cowbird (6) that robins leave South Dakota duringAmerican Goldfinch (1) :September and October for their win-Rufous-sided Towhee (2) tering grounds in Texas. By March theyLark Bunting (6) pass through Kansas on their northw~rdSavannah Sparrow (1) spring migration back to the breedingGrasshopper Sparrow (5) grounds.Vesper Sparrow (5) OTHER SPECIESLark Sparrow (4) Other interesting returns on otherTree Sparrow (1) species I have received from out-of-stateChipping Sparrow (1) include a marsh hawk banded on June 6,White-crowned Sparrow (2) 1935 at Alexandria, South Dakota th~tMcCown's Longspur (1) was recovered on April 24, 1939 mChestnut-collared Longspur (5) Nebraska; a yellow-shafted flicker
+Numbers in parentheses indicate banded on June 14, 1946 at Brookings andnumber of years species was sighted out recovered in Arkansas on January 27,of a possible six years. 1947; slate-colored junco banded October
." ' 9 1958 at Winner, recovered October 26,
(~~- '~ 1958 in Nebraska; a cedar waxwing':"'~:. ~\\' banded in Aberdeen on June 10, 1967, and
-.::~, recovered December 11, 1968 in Texas;-'" and probably the most ,interesting, .a
starling banded on AprIl 27, 1961 m-' Sturgis was found dead December 13,
Pine Grosbeak 1961 in New Mexico.-Cresbard, South-i'J. \V. !'teffen Dakota
DECEMBER. 1972 81 ~
---
,;~-~ )
Book Reviewsby J. W. Johnson
"HOW TO Talk to Birds" by Richard C. 1970. 319 pages, including a 14-page in-Davids. Alfred A. Knopf. 1972. 242 pp. dex. 2000 full-color illustrations of 516Illustrated with 16 pages of photographs. species. $6.95.$6.95. A full page map shows habitat types by
The subtitle: "and other uncommon color and another spots the most imways of enjoying nature the year round," portant sites for observing migratingis perhaps a better description of this birds. Small maps in column on the leftunusual and entertaining book. But side of left pages show distribution bytalking to birds is not neglected, starting color and give general direction ofthe embryo just before hatching, through movements by black arrows.duck and goose calling, to analysis of A beautiful book of pocket field guidethrush songs. Methods, meanings, size, convenient for quick reference orpurposes: non-technical, clearly in- extended study in the field. For one goingformative. to Europe-or just dreaming and hoping.
Some chapter headings: How to "A Seal In My Sleeping Bag" by Lynidentify birds the easier way; You too Hancock. AlfredA. Knopf. 1972. xiv + 292can grow moths in your closet; Swamp pp. Illustrated with m'aps andfever-worth catching; How to hunt deer photographs. $6.95.successfully-every time; More birds at This is an account of what it is like to beyour feeder; The lowdown on plants; wife to a wildlife biologist who not onlyHow to lure kids. Something new, a slant, brings his work home but takes his wifean idea, or a way of doing in every out in the field to help do it. Lyn issmooth paragraph. Things you didn't Australian born but most of their ac-realize you wanted to know. tivities are along the west coast of the
Davids, a native and resident of north- United States and British Columbia, withern Minnesota, has been a school particular attention to Vancouver Islandteacher, an editor of "Better Homes and and the Wildlife Conservation Center atGardens" and "Farm Journal" and, Sannich Pen, near Victoria.after graduation from the University of Wherever headquarters happens to be,Minnesota, wrote a textbook on con- a living room cluttered with seals, seaservation, the first in the United States. lions, wounded eagles, and such, is a big
This is a book to give a nature oriented part of life, sandwiched between spells offriend-but, better get an extra copy and bird counting by planes, tree climbing,spare yourself the pain of parting with it. cliff hanging among unwelcoming birds,
"Birds of Europe" by Bertel Bruun. and various related activities.Illustrated by Arthur Singer, consultant If there were dull moments, we can'teditor Bruce Campbell. McGraw-Hill. see how they found time to work them in.
82 SOUTH DAKOTA BIRD NOTES
~~
1
~QI N~tes ~f speciQlln~
DEARTH OF LARK BUNTINGS IN DAY we found the bird visiting my suet stickCOUNTY 1971-1972-On May 16, 1971, which was filled with bacon drippings.Russell Fridley, Herbert Krause and I That afternoon Orena Cooper and Alicewere birding on the western edge of the Chu came down and the bird was againWaubay Wildlife Refuge. very cooperative and came to the suet
Herb's eagle eye spotted a female Lark ,:,ery !~equ.ently so they .coul~ see all. itsBunting alongside the road and we IdentIficatIon marks. ThIS chIckadee IS aglassed it carefully. It perched on the much browner bird with a brown caplower strand of barb wire for a minute or compared to our regular Black-cappedtwo before flying away. Chickadee. It has dark chestnut on the
This was the earliest Lark Bunting sides of ~he b~east and ~bdome~. It is arecorded in our area. I hoped that we very actIve bIrd and flIts contInuouslywould have a nesting record for Day fr?m branch to bra~ch. Toward dusk. ofCounty but summer passed and fall came thIS same day, the bIrd was seen feedingand this Lark Bunting was the only one I close to o~e of ~y Brenckle warblersaw in Day County in 1971. traps, baIted with sunflower se.ed
..and cracked corn. To my great surprIseDurIng the season of 1972 I did not and happiness it flew into the trap. It
observe a single Lark Bunting. Robert was carefully' removed and banded.Jo.hn~on, manager ?f Waubay Federal Since it was too dark to take pictures of it IWIldlIfe Refuge, ad,:,Ised me he had seen that evening, it was held overnight in aonly one. Lark BuntIng all ':tear and th.at netlike container. Several people werewas durmg the Federal BIrd Census m telephoned to tell them about the birdJune, 1972-Herman P. Chilson, Webster including Bruce Harris and J. W.
+ + + Johnson, Huron. Dr. Raymond Linder,Director South Dakota Cooperative
BOREAL CHICKADEE IN BROOKINGS Wildlife Research Unit at South DakotaCOUNTY-On Sund.ay afte.rnoon, State University, was contacted and heN.ovember 12, 197~, whIle .observmg the drove down the next morning and ob-blr~s at our feeding sta.tIon, a Bo~eal served the bird in hand as it was beingChlcka~ee, race Hudsoman, came mto photographed. He conformed the iden-clea.r VIew on the edge of the spruce tree tification. Several pictures were taken.behmd the feeder. It was then observed The bird was then released back into theflitting around on the. edge branches of spruce trees. It was seen later that day atour spruce trees behmd our house. My the suet and has been a regular visitor uphusband and son also had excellent views to this date (Nov. 18).of it at this time. A member of this, species was seen a week earlier at On Wednesday, November 15th, myAltamont, S. Dak. in Deuel County by mist nets were set up in the afternoon andBruce Harris (see his account elsewhere one of the first birds to get caught wasin this issue). the Boreal Chickadee. It was carefully
Mrs. Wm. Peterson came down to see it removed and released again. Its nasalMonday morning, Dec. 13 about 10:45 and rather buzzy chickadee call was heard
DECEMBER. 1972 83
for the first that day also. It seems right from the feeders regularly. I concluded
at. home ~ere and we hope it will stay all that perhaps the Black-caps had bullied
wInter with us. the wandering Boreal Chickadee away
The ~ormal range of this chickadee, from the feeding station.
accordIng to Bent's Life History is from ..Northern Alaska YI!kon Ma~kenzie Mter watchIng the bird for some time,
northern Manitob~ and no;thern Quebe~ I ~.alle~ ~elda l:olden in Brookings,
south to southern Ontario northern a.S mK I s e cou come up to verify my
Michigan, northern Wisconsi~, northern ~ft~ l~~:d~ ~nd Dbav~ got up to .the house
Minnesota, northern Montana, and e e ar, ut It was late m the day
southern British Columbia. Bent :3ays when they arrlv~d, and none of the birds
"While not regularly migratory there wer~ very actIve about the feeding
appears to be an occasional fall statIon. ~e gave all of the large conifers
movement that extends the range in a g;ood gOIng over, and went thro~gh the
winter south to .southern Michi g an adjacent v.:°odland, but could not fInd the
...Boreal Chickadee(Lansmg); northern IllInoiS (Waukegan Flats); southern Minnesota (Fairmont); .The folloWIng mornIng I agaIn saw the
and northern North Dakota (Upsilon bird at about 8 a.m. The weather was
Lake); ..." Our home is on the southern frosty and foggy, with visibility poor.
edge of Brookings County about seven Kenneth Husmann arrived at the house
m~les south of Brookings. The Fairmont, at. about 8:30, and we m.anaged .to get a
Mmnesota observation is a bit further glimpse of th~ Boreal Chickadee m one of
south than our observation. So far as we the large conIfers. The bird moved about
know this is the first time the Boreal m~ch more than the Black-capped
Chickadee has been recorded in South Chlck.ade~, and was rather difficult to
Dakota.-Nelda Holden, Brookings keep m view, although at times it would
+ + + get way out on the outer edges of the
BOREAL CHICKADEE IN DEUEL spruce trees where it was easily ob-
COUNTY -On November 2 1972 I was served.
working in my office at Mtamont but Mter spending a good day in the field
keeping an eye on the busy fe~ding Ken and I returned to my home at about 4
station just outside the window. At about p.m., when weather conditions were
3 p.m. I glanced out and was more than a much improved. We were pleased to
little amazed to see a Boreal chickadee have some very nice views of the Boreal
hopping about on the large spruce tree Chi.ck.adee in full sunlight, and I was
near the feeding station. It was a species satIsfied that the bird (new for South
I'd never seen before, but light conditions Dakota) had been seen by at least one
were fairly good, and the distance was other person. Following the SDOU
only 30 feet from where I sat. Several meeting in Brookings on November 4th
Black-capped Chickadees were in area and 5th, Mr. and Mrs. James Johnson
at the time. I called my wife to see the and Mary Aberdeen Kettele drove up to
bird, and we both watched it for about 15 Altamont to see the Boreal Chickadee
minutes as it worked energetically about but as so often happens, we could not find
the outer twigs of the spruce. I expected the b~rd. In fact, I could not produce
to see it come to the window feeder for a?~thmg of special interest for my
the sunflower seeds that attracted the vIsitors, although magpies and scotersBlack-caps, but the Boreal Chickadee had been within five miles of my home
came no closer than a fuel oil barrel next during the previous 10 days.
to the window, although the Black- The Boreal Chickadee is a northern
capped Chickadees were going to and species that wmters regularly in north-
84SOUTH DAKOTA BIRD NOTES
-
ern Minnesota, though not at all a Crossbills on that day. Jeff said theycommon bird there. It has occurred in were good acrobats and could shuck thesouthern Minnesota on rare occasions seeds in any position including upsidealmost to the Iowa border' several years down. The majority were Red Crossbills' .ago, a small group of Boreal Chickadees. but there were a few scatterd WhIte-wintered near Morris, Minnesota, but I winged Cross bills with them.r do not have a reference at hand on this There were about 40 crossbills when Iat the present time. The species has only observed them, and Everett Sewellrarely been observed in North Dakota, estimated approximately 20 when he sawbeing rated as ac~idental. in t~at state them. September 7, 1972, was the last dayl (Stewart, "ChecklIst of BIrds m North I saw them in this particular location and
Dakota"). There is no record of the bird the numbers had dwindled to about 15observed in South Dakota, to .the .best of birds. However, I saw many other inter-my knowledge, an~ the SI~htIng at esting birds in this small patch. ThereAltamont thus constItutes a fIrst state were House Sparrows, Purple Finches,record.-Bruce Harris, Altamont. one Goldfinch one albinistic Grackle
.,with a white patch on the back of hisneck, one Yellow Warbler, one Myrtle+ + + Warbler, several Brown Thrashers, one
Solitary Vireo, three Yellow-shaftedWOOD DUCK NESTS ON WHITE Flickers, and some Mourning Doves.RIVER-In the early afternoon of August Surprisingly there were no Blue Jays,8, 1972, noted an adult female Wood Duck chickadees, or nuthatch.es but 20 to 30(Aix sponsa) and three young on the B.ank Swallows were flymg near a sandWhite River 13 miles east of the U.S. pit across the road.Highway 83 bridge, Mellette County. To On September 8th and 9th the birdsmy knowledge!. this is the first authentic were gone. It seemed strange to me thatreport of a nestIng Wood Duck west ~f the the birds would leave while some seedsMissouri River. La~ge cott.onwoods m ~he remained in the heads. Upon closer in-area would provIde suitable nestIng vestigation I noticed that these seeds hadsites.-Conrad Hillman, BSFW, Rapid not filled. I later learned that each seedCity, South Dakota on a sunflower has an individual flower
which must be insect pollinated or it will+ + + not fill. The birds only ate the filled
seeds.RED CROSSBILLS NEAR WEBSTER- Sunflowers as a crop are fairly new inEverett Sewell and Jeff Nelson, both northeast South Dakota. Relatively fewmembers of SD.O.U., de~ided t? raise a farmers in our area grow them whilecrop of sunflowers for ,:-,mter bIrd foo~. entire farms are planted to sunflowersSewell offered to furmsh the seed If just 100 miles north of us in NorthNelson would prepare the ground and Dakota.plant it. This one-fourth-acre patch was .I cated one mile south and one-eighth Has the mcreased acreage of sun-~ile west of Webster near a small grove flowers in North Dakota brought moref Sc tch Pine and Colorado Blue Spruce. cross bills into that state? It would be0 0 interesting to hear from some of our
On August 10, 1972, Jeff Nelson went North Dakota birders.out to gather some sunflowers for a '"display at the Day County Fair. He As I was revIewmg my fIeld notes andestimated there were 50 to 75 Red writing this article on November 21, 1972,DECEMBER,1972 85
.-
I heard the familiar two and three note mother what we had seen, asking her tosong of the crossbills: Clip, clip, and clip, have my dad check on the bird as soon asclip, clip. There were 10 Red Crossbills he got home, as I was not sure whethereating seeds in the cones on the top of my the bird was supposed to be found inneighbor's Colorado Blue Spruce tree. South Dakota. Dad didn't get home forThree beautiful males were prominent another half hour, and I was not aroundamong the drab immature and female to tell him about the bird, but he got outbirdS.-Herman Chilson, Webster and scoured the country for more than an
hour, with no luck in finding it. Theweather that afternoon was very un-
+ + + settled, and it's likely that the Scissor-tailmoved some distance away.
When my father received his copy ofSIGHT RECORD FOR SCISSOR- The Loon (published by the MinnesotaTAILED FLYCATCHER AND MAGPIE Ornithologists Union) for Summer, 1972,IN DEUEL COUNTY -On May 24, 1972, I he was much interested in seeing a fineobserved a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher photo of a Scissor-tailed flycatcher on thenear Altamont, Deuel County. There had cover, with a story about a bird observedbeen a severe lightning storm the at Duluth, Minnesota on May 24, 1972, theprevious night, and Lynn Stoltenberg, exact date of my observation in Deuelfrom a neighboring farm, had asked me County! Dad says that Scissor-tailedto help him check cattle in. their pasture, flycatchers have been observed in Southbecause they were worried that some Dakota on only three other occasionsanimals might have been struck by (SDBN: December, 1969, p. 86).lightning during the storm. We drove into Another interesting bird record turnedthe pasture on S~oltenberg's tractor rat up on October 21, 1972, when I spotted twoabout 11 a.m., gOIng east from the ~a m Magpies near Rush Lake, Deuel County.to some scattered trees about one-elghth I was with Dad at the time and he alsomile north of the paved road. When we saw the birds. Two days lat~r Dad and Iwe~e about 4?yar~ from the trees I saw single Magpies at Lake Alice andnoticed a familiar bird on a lo-..yer dead Lake Francis; as both of these areasbranch of one of the trees. Light con- were within three miles of Rush Lake weditions were very good, and I at once assumed the birds were the same asnotice? the long ta~~ of the. bird.. those observed on October 21st. Two
I said to Lynn, There IS a Sclssor- magpies were again observed at Rushtailed ~lycatch.er ." H~ asked me if they Lake on October 29th. Dr. John Gates, ofcalled It. a Sclss~r-tall because o~ the the Department of Wildlife Management,fo~ked tall o~ the bird. I had ~een ~clssor- SDSU, Brookings, also reported seeingtails. many tlm~s when we llv.ed m New two magpies near Rush Lake. DadMexIco about SIX years ago-:m fa~t, we thought there were only two magpies inhad a nest of one of the~e birds m our Deuel County until November 3rd, whenback yard at Carlsbad,. Just before we he was driving by the Crystal Springsmoved to Sou.th Dako~a m 1966. So. there Ranch with Kenneth Husmann, ofwas no doubt m my mInd that the bird we Brookings. On that date Mr. Husmannsa:"" nea~ Altamont was actually a saw five magpies in one group! Dad saysScissor-tailed .flycatcher. L:ynn ~nd I that magpIes have been reported in thewatche? the bird for a~ou~ five mInutes northeastern counties from time to time,b~for~ It flew over a hill m a northerly but they are considered rare birds in thisdirection. When I .got ho~e about one- part of the state.-Mark Harris.half hour later I Immediately told my Altamont
86 SOUTH DAKOTA BIRD NOTES
PRAIRIE FALCON IN DAY COUNTy-in the early 1950's, one would be iden-1 was drivin~ to our summer home at tified in roadside cover in the area.Pickerel Lake on September 6, 1972, For a considerable period prior to 1963about 6:30 p.m., when I sighted a light none were sighted anywhere.tan or ~rayish hawk flyin.g in the pasture Of the 18 subspecies given in the 1957borderIng Day County HIghway Number A 0 U Ch k L. t nl P . b . thI0 e ...ec -IS 0 Y ,I.za orla, en. , ..Yukon Fox Sparrow, seems to have a
I ha~ Just pass~d the mtersectlo~ of the migration route likely to impinge on thisGrenvIlle road with Day County HIghway area. The Check-List notes that it winters
~ Number One when I stopped the car (or a "chiefly east of the Great Plains." In thisbetter look. migration pattern there may be a clue to
..P the near absence o( spring observations:~t first I thought ,It ~as a ere- the normal migration route lies farther
~rme Falcon, but thIS bIrd was t?IO east and we see only the occasionall1g~t colo~ed for that. The lon~ ta~, straggler. The fall movement, when ap~mted WIngs, and dar~ pat.c~es !n t e large proportion would be birds of theWIngs close to the body Identified It as a year would be expected to be both morePrairie Falcon. num~rous and more scattered.
Driving down the road another one-fourth mile I arrived at the exact spot Being early warned that this specieswhere Fred Staunton, former manager of has been mistakenly identified as Hermitthe Waubay Federal Wildlife Refuge, and Thrush by the unwary, even one banderI had seen a Prairie Falcon some 12 at least, we were careful always to makeyears ago on April 6, 1960. (See Bird sure that the bird had long, red breastNotes Volume XIX, Number 4, page 90.) stripes and that the red on the back was
not confined to the tail before calling it aThis was the second Prairie Falcon I Fox Sparrow. Hence we do not believe
had seen in Day County during my the records below include any Hermitlifetime; to see both of them within a half Thrushes.~ile of each other was quite a coin- On October 8, 1965 a Fox Sparrow wascldence. trapped and banded. It was observed on
That evening I called Robert Johnson the following days indicated returned toat Refuge headquarters to alert him that the trap October 10, and ~as last ob-a prairie falcon was in our area and to served October 15. The second individualwatch for it. Bob told me that during his seen October 8 was not observed on latertenure at the Refuge he had seen only one days.Prairie Falcon.-Herman P. Chilson, Year, month and day:Webster 1963-10-28.
1964-10-3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,25.+ + + 1965-9-30, 10-5, 7, 8 (2) (one banded
FOX SPARROW OBSERVATIONS IN and observed 10-8, 9, 1011, 12, 13, 15,-THE HURON AREA-According to our returned to trap 10-10).records the Fox Sparrow is not a very 1966-9-30.common bird in this area. It seems to be 1967-10-7.cyclic in its fall appearance, We have 1968-only one spring record: one got in the 1969-10-7, 10, 11, 12.sparrow trap April 12, 1966 and was 1970-10-11.banded. 1971-10-8, 29, 30, 31.
Since 1963 they have appeared in our 1972-9-19, 10-21.yard on the dates shown below. Rarely, -J, W, and Lucille Johnson, HuronDECEMBER,1972 87
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Blue-winged Teal in Jackson County-Photo by Roger R. Kerbs
COVER PICTUREThe Red-wing Blackbird illustration is another of the
fine drawings of Wayne Trimm. Mr. and Mrs. HermanChapman, Sioux Falls, were kind enough to share thiswith us.
