April 2018

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Sun, 01 Apr 2018 00:00:00 GMT

In this issue:

Hot Birds: April 2018

Sun, 01 Apr 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Glenn d’Entremont found a Pink-footed Goose in the Bristol Aggie athletic fields on January 28. It was seen in that area through February 1; what may have been the same individual was spotted in nearby Swansea by Liam Waters on February 21. Jonathan Eckerson took the photo above.

One of the most long-staying vagrant birds of the winter, a Townsend’s Solitaire, originally detected on November 12 at Demarest Lloyd State Park by Glenn d’Entremont, continued to be seen and photographed there through February 13. Jeff Offerman took the photo above.

Jeremiah Trimble found a third-year Slaty-backed Gull at Fresh Pond on February 16. A few days later, what was apparently the same bird was detected in Gloucester by Sean Williams! The bird was found only for one day in each location; is it still a one-day wonder if it is found for one day each in two different places? Sean took the photo above.

Birding Miantonomi Memorial Park, Newport, Rhode Island

Sun, 01 Apr 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Miantonomi has a long history. The park was originally called Tonomy Hill or Wanomitonomo Hill because of its most prominent feature—its wooded hill, the highest point in Newport County. Sachem (Chief) Miantonomi of the Narragansett people, for whom the park is named, ceded the hill to English colonists in 1637. The colonists used the hilltop as a lookout against foreign forces that might have eyes toward the New World.

In 1913, the famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. suggested that the city of Newport turn the area into a park, and on Armistice Day in 1923, the hill and surroundings were established as a war memorial and city park. Six years later, in 1929, a fieldstone tower approximately 80 feet tall was built atop Miantonomi Hill as a World War I memorial and to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the 1778 Battle of Rhode Island. (For history buffs, this is also known as the Battle of Quaker Hill or the Battle of Newport.) At Newport's highest point, the tower overlooks all of Newport and points beyond. Miantonomi Memorial Park was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1968. The Aquidneck Land Trust established a conservation easement on the site in 2005.

Originally Mia was designed as a city park with plantings of exotic tree species and comfortable park benches. Today the vegetation is an eclectic mix of older ornamental plantings and native trees. Oak, birch, pine, beech, and maple, along with various non-native species, provide a combination of trees similar to old New England cemeteries, yet with a big difference. Neither the original landscaping plan nor the health of the ornamentals have been maintained, leaving the park with a bit of a worn-down feeling. Old concrete park benches, crumbling with time, dot the landscape. Nevertheless, in the eyes of migrating birds, Miantonomi is a safe haven for spending a day or two on their journey northward.

Yellow-throated Warbler. All photographs by Carlos Pedro.

Miantonomi also boasts interesting geology. The hill has unusual outcrops of puddingstone, a sedimentary conglomerate consisting of distinctly rounded stones and pebbles embedded in a finer-grained matrix. And it rises steeply to a height of 150 feet above the surrounding coastal plain, which is unusual for Aquidneck Island and anywhere else in southern Rhode Island. Maybe this is why Mia is such a spring migrant magnet.

The City of Newport began to upgrade portions of the park in 2017, creating new pathways that accommodate access by people with locomotor disabilities. It is reported that a meadow close to Girard Avenue on the west side of the park will be restored in 2018. Along with routine maintenance of the primary pathways, these efforts should enhance the value of Mia for birding and other uses. Miantonomi Memorial Park is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There is no entrance fee. All areas are easily accessible, but expect some steep uphill climbs.

Years ago, Mia had a deserved reputation for being an uncomfortable, and perhaps even dangerous, place to visit. Although the temporary tents of people lacking permanent homes can still be found in the deeper recesses of the park, local officials have done a great job of ensuring that the park is safe to visit. I feel completely comfortable visiting the park and try to do so nearly every morning during spring migration.

Birds (and Other Animals) of Miantonomi

Although no one knows why Miantonomi is such a great migrant trap, its wooded hill seems like an obvious safe haven and feeding stopover for Neotropical migrants arriving in southern New England after their long oceanic journeys. Mia meets the conditions that typically induce spring migrant fallouts; a green beacon on a hill surrounded by residential development most certainly is a great attractor to birds as they struggle to make landfall.

Miantonomi Memorial Park has no official bird list. I have recorded 132 species over the course of a decade of birding there. The eBird hotspot list <https://ebird.org/hotspot/L729779> for Mia coincidentally includes 132 species. I don't contribute often to eBird, and there are some differences between the two lists, so I estimate about 135 species for the park. Although this number might seem meager by some standards, in the context of the park's small size and lack of habitat variation, that's a pretty good count. Plus, you can find most of those 135 species at Mia during any given spring.

My personal list includes 32 species of warblers, with annual or near-annual sightings of sought-after migrants such as Cape May Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Canada Warbler, and Wilson's Warbler. Some of the more uncommon warblers in Rhode Island can also be found here in certain years, such as Cerulean Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, Mourning Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, and Yellow-throated Warbler (the latter two now almost annual at Mia). Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler, Blackpoll, American Redstart, and Black-and-white Warbler are by far the most common.

In addition to the southern warblers, the park attracts other species not normally seen in Rhode Island, such as Summer Tanager (now annual) and Blue Grosbeak. I've also seen a Mississippi Kite soaring over the park. As the climate continues to warm in southern New England and elsewhere, I think it's safe to expect to see other southern species at Mia in the years to come.

Rounding out the list of interesting species that just pass through on their way to breeding grounds are Least, Yellow-breasted, and Olive-sided flycatchers, Blue-headed, Warbling, and Yellow-throated vireos, Lincoln's and Clay-colored sparrows, and Indigo Bunting. I've even observed a Bobolink singing in the trees at the height of migration. Some of these species breed elsewhere in Rhode Island, others are just plain off track. With more summer visits to the park, birders might discover that some of the Rhode Island breeding birds, e.g., Yellow-throated Vireo, might breed at Mia.

Common and Red-throated loons, Common and Red-breasted mergansers, and other ducks, gulls, waterbirds, and shorebirds often fly over Mia as they move elsewhere from nearby Narragansett Bay. Raptors, including Red-tailed Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, and Cooper's Hawk, soar above the park.

Summer Tanager

Species known or suspected to breed in the park include Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Eastern Phoebe, Great-crested Flycatcher, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, House and Carolina wrens (the latter another southern species moving north), Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Baltimore and Orchard orioles, Red-eyed Vireo, American Crow, Gray Catbird, and in some years Cooper's Hawk. Yellow-billed and Black-billed cuckoos are observed often as well. Stay tuned for the results of the Rhode Island Atlas 2.0 <https://www.ribirdatlas.com/> that currently is underway and likely will change our understanding of nesting and wintering species in Miantonomi Park.

Other than humans, their dogs (usually leashed), eastern chipmunk, and the ubiquitous gray squirrel, Miantonomi has few large mammals. Virginia opposum, eastern cottontail rabbit, and an occasional raccoon round out its list of larger wildlife. Undoubtedly, the woods and fields host voles and mice, and various bats likely patrol for insects at night. I have encountered very few of these latter during my visits.

Birding Miantonomi

The birding at Mia is best in the spring: April, May, and early June. After the spring push, only a few species remain in the park to nest here. Summer through winter can be slow, with breeding species lingering into summer and woodpeckers like Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in fall and winter.

The park is divided into two main areas: a playground and a mowed, grassy, four-acre playfield on the eastern side, and the wooded hill to the west. Although isolated tall trees in the playground attract several species including warblers and vireos during migration, and Chipping Sparrows, American Goldfinches, and House Finches well into summer, this area usually deserves only a passing interest. However, Clay-colored Sparrows and Olive-sided Flycatchers have been seen in these trees on more than one occasion, so checking this area can be productive in spring. The open playfield usually attracts flocks of European Starlings, and Ring-billed and Herring gulls after heavy rains.

Prothonotary Warbler

The wooded hill is the feature that really attracts birds and birders alike. Unmarked but obvious pathways cut through the woods to allow access to almost all parts of the park. Local birders have given unofficial names to certain areas to help communicate more precisely the locations of good sightings. The Tower refers to the hilltop itself, with its prominent landmark used as a reference to all other locations. It is a somewhat open area with scattered ornamental trees that permits viewing of the upper third of the canopy of the forest below. This is a good place to look for flycatchers, warblers feeding in the ornamentals, almost anything in the surrounding canopy, and to scan the sky for raptors and passing waterbirds. Reach the Tower from the south using the main dirt road that begins near the disused restrooms at the south end of the playground, from the east by climbing the steep hill and old stone steps from an access point in the northwest corner of the playfield, from the west by two steep paths, and from the north by following the path leading south from the Saddle. (See Figure 1. Map of Miantonomi Park.)

Located just north of and below the Tower is the Saddle, so named because at its center the path rises to the north and south, and the intersecting path falls off to the east and west, thus emulating the curvature of a saddle. A couple of small depressions in this area can collect rainfall, which is attractive to migrants such as Mourning and Worm-eating warblers. This area in fully wooded with thick tangles of underbrush, and typically harbors the highest densities of migrants and residents alike. On fallout days, the cacophony of song here can be deafening, driving listeners like me back out into the open playfield to clear our ears! Adding to the challenge for listeners are lots of Gray Catbirds, Common Grackles, and House (or as I call them, French Fry) Sparrows.

To the north of the Saddle is, well, the North End. The path from the Saddle ends in a loop, the interior of which contains a small pool of displeasingly green water and often trash. Nevertheless, birds seem attracted to the water, as well as the brush surrounding it. Under certain conditions—clear weather with southerly winds—many migrants appear to stage in the North End as if getting ready to leave that night. That, however, is conjecture.

To the west of the Tower is the West Slope, with its wide main path running north/south and other paths climbing east up to the Saddle and Tower. This is a deeply wooded area that can be good for warblers, wrens, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and Scarlet and Summer tanagers. Other than American Robins, thrushes are not common at Miantonomi, but this wide path is one of the better places in the park to find (in descending order of abundance) Wood Thrush, Veery, Hermit Thrush, and rarely Swainson's Thrush out in the open. A good way to see thrushes here is to pause at the top or bottom of the straight main pathway and scan the open ground of the path. Sometimes, their singing gives them away before they are seen.

To the southwest of the West Slope is a linear open area called the Lower Meadow. You will see migrants and residents along its wooded edge, but the main reason for checking this area is to look for nesting Orchard Orioles, a southern species that is becoming increasingly common in Rhode Island.

The wide main path of the West Slope bends eastward at its southern end, ultimately intersecting with the main dirt road leading to the Tower. I use this path primarily as a conveyance between the wide main path of the West Slope and the Tower or playground.

Species along this path are similar to those found in the West Slope, and this area seems to be particularly attractive to Summer Tanagers.

Birding the East Face of the tree line along the eastern base of the hill, at the edge of the playfield, can be productive on sunny mornings as insects and their avian predators warm up. Birds can be low to the ground or high up in some of the larger oaks. I've seen Cape May Warbler here in scrub at about three feet off the ground and numbers of Black-throated Green Warbler equally low. You can reduce the strain of "warbler neck" from looking up at birds simply by taking a few steps back into the playfield to get a lower-angle view.

There is no well-established route to bird Mia; during spring migration the good birds can be anywhere. I usually begin by entering the woods on the pathway just east of the Tower, pausing at the Saddle to listen to where the action is, and then going from there. Otherwise, and unless my time is limited, I go up to the North End, walk along the West Slope, climb the hill to the Tower, and walk the East Face, all in just a little over an hour and a half. Of course, when things are really happening, I take time off from work to bird for three or four hours.

Figure 2. Birding Hot Spots in Southern Rhode Island.

Making a Day of It

Although spring migrants usually remain in Mia throughout the day, the birding slows noticeably after 10:00 am or so. Visitors who have traveled a distance might want to make a full day of their trip by birding other southern Rhode Island hot spots nearby. You can find seabirds, resident passerines, and spring and fall migrants at Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge and Brenton Point State Park, both located on the south end of Aquidneck Island, and Beavertail State Park at the south end of Jamestown. All of these places are within 10–20 minutes driving time of Miantonomi. (See Figure 2. Birding Hot Spots in Southern Rhode Island.)

The caveat during spring migration is that on a good birding day, you might end up spending your time at only one or two places, including Miantonomi Memorial Park. On a slow day, or during the other seasons, you might be able to hit all of these hot spots. Still, all are worth visiting if you journey this way.

Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge (Sachuest Point Road, Middletown, RI; 41°28'47.8"N, 71°14"37.0"W) is renowned as a migration stopover. Extensive coastal thickets provide a haven for birds coming north in spring and especially for birds preparing for their big flight in fall. Sachuest has been a reasonably reliable place to find Rhode Island rarities such as Yellow-breasted Chat and has hosted Western Kingbird and Bell's Vireo in the recent past. The refuge is particularly known for its wintering population of Harlequin Ducks (which has dwindled in recent years as the population shifts to Beavertail State Park), other sea ducks, Common and Red-throated loons, and Horned and Red-necked grebes, all easily found offshore with a spotting scope. During irruption years, Snowy Owls can be seen roosting during daylight hours on Island Rocks just offshore. Northern Harriers, and at times Short-eared Owls, and occasionally Barn Owls, hunt the hillside fields below the refuge headquarters in the late afternoon and early evening, frequently providing spectacular interspecies interactions. Shorebirds, gulls and terns, and dabbling ducks can be observed in the coastal marsh that has recently been restored. American Bitterns sometimes lurk in the grasses of the marsh. See <https://www.fws.gov/refuge/sachuest_point> for more information.

Brenton Point State Park (437 Ocean Avenue, Newport, RI; 41°27'4.3"N 71°21'6.3"W) at the southernmost point of Ocean Drive in Newport offers an open rocky coastline facing the Atlantic Ocean, a reforesting area that once housed a horse stable, and large expanses of mowed grass lawn. Like Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge, Brenton Point juts out into the Atlantic Ocean and is a first landfall for birds migrating north in spring. Shorebirds, including White-rumped Sandpiper, frequent the seaweed wracks and small sections of sandy beach during spring, summer, and fall, and gulls and terns can be seen fishing just offshore in summer. During fall migration, wooded areas and thickets can host numbers of warblers and vireos, and the park is gaining a reputation of being one of the better locations in southern Rhode Island for finding Connecticut Warbler and Philadelphia Vireo. Dickcissel is sometimes seen (more often heard) flying over the grassy lawns and thickets during fall. In fall and winter, Common Eider, all three scoters, and other waterfowl can be seen along the coastline, although they are not as plentiful as they are at Sachuest or Beavertail State Park. King Eider has been observed in recent years. Horned Lark and Snow Bunting flocks can be found on Brenton Point's lawns during late fall and winter. See <http://riparks.com/Locations/LocationBrentonPoint.html> for more information.

Beavertail State Park (734 Beavertail Road, Jamestown, RI; 41°26'58.4"N, 71°23'56.3"W) is another great place to see spring and fall migrants, and winter waterfowl. The "Beave" sports substantial coastal thicket habitat, harboring migrants and resident passerines. Connecticut Warbler and many other migrating passerines, including Dickcissel, have been logged here in recent years. Yet the Beave's rocky coastline is the main attraction. In fall, winter, and early spring, Harlequin Duck, Common Eider (rarely King Eider), Long-tailed Duck, and all three species of scoter can be observed (and heard) feeding just offshore of Beavertail's lighthouse. Common and Red-throated loons, Horned and Red-necked grebes, and Razorbills are usually present farther out (a scope is helpful). Little Gull also has been seen here. Winter storms with strong southerly winds can bring in other alcids, including Common and Thick-billed murres, Dovekie, and Black Guillemot, in addition to Northern Gannet, Bonaparte's Gull, and occasionally Black-legged Kittiwake. Tubenoses such as Northern Fulmar (winter) and various shearwaters (summer and early fall) can sometimes be found with the right weather conditions. Snow Bunting and American Pipit often use grassy areas near the lighthouse and parking lots. For additional information, see <http://www.riparks.com/Locations/LocationBeavertail.html>

Getting There

Located on Aquidneck Island in Narragansett Bay, Miantonomi Memorial Park (200–262 Hillside Avenue, Newport, RI; 41°3037.0" 71°1837.7"W) can be reached from northern New England and much of Massachusetts from southbound Interstate 95 (I–95) by taking Exit 9 to Route 4 south toward Narragansett just past Warwick. Route 4 becomes Route 1 about 9.6 miles later. About 10.3 miles from I–95, exit onto Route 138 east (toward Newport) to cross the Verrazano Bridge (toll free; watch for Peregrine Falcon hunting pigeons from the light posts), Jamestown (officially known as Conanicut Island), and the Pell Bridge ($4 toll each way without EZPass) into Newport. Remain on Route 138 just after the Pell Bridge (do not take the exit for Newport) and follow it to the intersection with Admiral Kalbfus Road. At this point, the parking lot entrance for Newport Grand Casino will be directly opposite. Turn left (east) at the traffic signal. You will see the wooded hill of the park with its prominent tower on your left almost immediately. Go past Girard Avenue on your left, and proceed to the next traffic signal (approximately 0.25 mile) to the intersection of Admiral Kalbfus Road and Hillside Avenue. Turn left onto Hillside Avenue. The main entrance and best parking is located along Hillside Avenue next to the playground and playfield.

From western Rhode Island and Connecticut, head northbound on I–95 and take Exit 3A in Richmond right (east) onto Route 138 toward Kingston and the University of Rhode Island. In approximately 15 miles, turn left (north) onto US Route 1, and in two miles, exit back onto Route 138 east toward Newport. From this point, follow the directions given above to reach Miantonomi.

From eastern Rhode Island, southeastern Massachusetts, and Boston, take Route 24 from Interstate 195 (I–195) at Fall River, Massachusetts, and follow it south for about 9.6 miles from I–195 until it joins Route 114 in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. Route 114 is also called West Main Road. In 16.7 miles from I–195, turn right (west) onto Admiral Kalbfus Road, and in 0.33 mile, turn right (north) onto Hillside Avenue.

Wayne R. Munns, Jr. lives in Jamestown, Rhode Island, and makes almost daily visits to Miantonomi Memorial Park during spring migration. Wayne has birded extensively, visiting about 30 countries and six continents. When not birding, Wayne is the director of the US Environmental Protection Agency research laboratory in Narragansett, Rhode Island.

Grasshopper Sparrow Status and Conservation in Massachusetts and throughout New England

Sun, 01 Apr 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Although the dominant natural habitat in Massachusetts is forest, grasslands have historically been present, especially along the coastal plain and in river valleys where sandy soils have been deposited by glacial activity and flooding. Following the last glacial period 10,000 years ago, the retreating ice left behind a barren landscape initially colonized by wind dispersed grasses and forbs. This early post-glacial revegetation likely resulted in contiguous grassland from the Great Plains to the New England coast. Grassland birds would certainly have benefitted from this increase in habitat, and it is thought that they have persisted in the region in pockets of habitat with sandy soils and periodic natural or anthropogenic disturbance such as fire (Vickery and Dunwiddie 1997). Support for the concept of a long-term grassland presence in New England is found in the evolution of northeastern endemic grassland-dependent birds such as the eastern subspecies of the Henslow's Sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii susurrans) and the Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis savanna).

Grassland at Frances A. Crane Wildlife Management Area. Photograph by MassWildlife.

Habitat for many grassland birds in New England, including Grasshopper Sparrows (Ammodramus savannarum), increased following European colonization during the late 18th and early 19th centuries when approximately 80% of Massachusetts' forests were cleared for agriculture. In Birds of Massachusetts and other New England States, Edward Forbush referred to the species as "not so uncommon in Massachusetts as most people believe, but its insect-like song is barely audible at one hundred yards" (Forbush 1929). However, as farms in New England were abandoned, the land began to revert to forest resulting in declines of grassland birds. While this return to forest reflects a more natural state in the Northeast, it is important to remember that grassland habitats have been part of the Massachusetts landscape since the retreat of the Wisconsin Ice Sheet. In addition to forest regeneration, agricultural intensification in much of the remaining farmland has degraded the habitat for grassland birds, further contributing to their population declines.

As many native species associated with grassland habitat continue to decline, the regional viability of species such as the Grasshopper Sparrow has become tenuous. It is now generally recognized by conservation organizations, such as the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife), Mass Audubon, The Trustees of Reservations (TTOR), and The Nature Conservancy, that managing grassland habitat in Massachusetts is a conservation priority. Furthermore, given the ongoing decline of Grasshopper Sparrow in the core of its range in the Great Plains and Midwest, managing for this species in the Northeast has increased in importance. Breeding Bird Survey results indicate the Grasshopper Sparrow has undergone a range-wide 2.5% annual decline since 1966, with an even steeper annual decline (-3.3%) throughout the New England and mid-Atlantic region (Sauer et al. 2017). As a result, the Grasshopper Sparrow is state-listed as either threatened or endangered in every New England state. Although the ephemeral nature of grasslands makes managing them a challenge, such management is necessary to maintain New England's full biodiversity.

The Grasshopper Sparrow is a small, migratory grassland bird with a relatively large breeding range extending from the western Great Plains to New England and a wintering range in the southern United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean. However the bird specializes in a habitat that is patchily distributed and rare throughout much of this range. Grasshopper Sparrows are considered to be area-sensitive and are generally only found nesting in suitable patches of habitat that are greater than 75 acres in size (Vickery 1996; MassWildlife unpublished data). In Massachusetts, nesting Grasshopper Sparrows are primarily found in grasslands dominated by warm-season bunch grasses. The species clutch size averages 4.3 eggs (range = 3–6), and it is capable of double brooding or producing two sets of young in a single breeding season (Vickery 1996). The female incubates eggs for 11–13 days and altricial young are fed in the nest for nine days before fledging. Upon leaving the nest, fledglings are flightless and for 3–4 weeks remain dependent on their parents before dispersing away from their natal territory (Vickery 1996). Although the Grasshopper Sparrow is subject to brood parasitism by the Brown-headed Cowbird, such parasitism levels are generally low and probably have little effect on the population.

Throughout New England, Grasshopper Sparrows are confined to a small number of sites, many of which are airports, landfills, and military installations. However, airport managers are increasingly compelled to reduce the amount of grassland habitat on their property as they seek to expand, maintain runway safety, and branch out into non-aeronautical uses. Similarly, at military sites, even though official policies recognize the need to take habitat needs into account, military uses take precedence over habitat concerns. Recently, efforts to encourage diversity in the energy sector have resulted in a push for solar panel installations in open habitats such as landfills and airfields, which adversely impacts grassland bird habitat at these sites.

Grasshopper Sparrows in Massachusetts

The Grasshopper Sparrow is listed as a threatened species under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act (MESA). Through MESA, nesting habitat for this species is provided a layer of protection, and MassWildlife actively manages land to provide nesting habitat for this and other sandplain grassland species. Over the last several decades, Grasshopper Sparrows have been documented during the breeding period at 44 sites in Massachusetts, but almost half of these had only one or two singing males and many no longer support nesting birds. Only a few sites had more than 10 pairs of Grasshopper Sparrows, and sites with fewer than 10 pairs are highly vulnerable and frequently become locally extinct (Jones 2000).

Frances A. Crane Wildlife Management Area from a drone. Photograph by MassWildlife.

Suitable habitat can be created for Grasshopper Sparrows, but this process requires continued maintenance through prescribed burning, mowing, herbicide application, or low intensity grazing. Prescribed fire has been successfully implemented as a management tool in late summer and early fall or late winter and spring while avoiding habitat disturbance during the breeding season. Similarly, mowing during the breeding season has been documented to cause large scale nesting failure by grassland birds (Perlut et al. 2006), and a deferred mowing regime—after August 1—is recommended if managing for these species. One way to promote late-season mowing is to encourage the growth of native warm-season grasses (e.g., little blue stem, Indian grass), which mature later than the cool-season grasses, allowing for mowing to be delayed until after the peak nesting period.

In 2013, MassWildlife, in collaboration with conservation partners, developed "An Action Plan for the Conservation of State-listed Obligate Grassland Birds in Massachusetts" <https://www.mass.gov/service-details/grassland-bird-conservation>. Given concerns about the long-term viability of the Commonwealth's Grasshopper Sparrow and Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda) populations, the primary purposes of this report were to identify the most important breeding sites for these species and to initiate a long-term action planning and implementation process for top-ranking sites in order to enable the best possible management on an ongoing basis. Specifically, we sought to identify, and focus additional resources on the expansion, restoration, and management of Grasshopper Sparrow and Upland Sandpiper habitat on protected open-space sites that are large enough to support viable populations in the long-term and where grassland habitat management is a primary goal.

Of the 43 sites that were identified by the plan to have supported breeding Grasshopper Sparrows at some point since 1990, three sites, owned and managed by MassWildlife, were deemed to provide some of the best management and restoration opportunities in the state because of their positions in the landscape and the agency's commitment to managing these important resources. These sites were the Frances A. Crane Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Falmouth, Southwick WMA in Southwick, and Bolton Flats WMA in Lancaster.

Frances A. Crane WMA: The grassland at Frances A. Crane WMA in Falmouth has long supported breeding Grasshopper Sparrows, but by the year 2000 the number of Grasshopper Sparrow territories had dwindled, primarily due to encroaching woody vegetation and a shift away from warm-season grasses. In 2001, a management regime was introduced to the grassland that included prescribed fire, targeted mowing, and invasive species control in order to begin restoring the sandplain grassland community. By 2004, the Grasshopper Sparrow population rebounded to nine territories, where it remained for several years with active management. In 2014, and based upon recommendations of the Grassland Bird Plan, MassWildlife began one of its most ambitious landscape restoration efforts in its history, working to nearly double the size of this grassland, bringing it to roughly 350 contiguous acres. This work focused on converting approximately 150 acres of woodland surrounding the existing grassland to grassland, planting this converted area with native warm-season grasses, and developing a management plan that would result in a high-integrity sandplain grassland community to support Grasshopper Sparrow and a large suite of other highly specialized—and often quite rare—plants and animals. The impact of this work on the Grasshopper Sparrow was almost immediate, with the population jumping to 27 territories in 2016, which is remarkable considering this increase occurred before any of the former woodland areas even supported grass. This increase in territories occurred on the original grassland footprint and was a result of simply pushing the forest edge back, allowing the original patch to become interior grassland habitat. As with many grassland birds, Grasshopper Sparrows strongly avoid edge habitat. By 2017, the new restoration areas began providing grassland habitat, and as these areas continue to improve, the Frances A. Crane WMA is expected to support approximately 50 Grasshopper Sparrow territories and become one of the largest and most stable sandplain grassland sites in Massachusetts.

Concurrent with MassWildlife's work at Frances A. Crane WMA, resource managers at the adjacent Joint Base Cape Cod also have recently increased their grassland restoration and management efforts, resulting in a marked increase in their Grasshopper Sparrow population. With these two sites in such close proximity (~1km), and with the goals of both programs so well aligned, the two agencies have begun working together to share expertise and resources. In fact, color-banded Grasshopper Sparrows have been detected moving between sites within a season, indicating the birds may actually perceive them as a single large grassland site.

Prescribed burn. Photograph by MassWildlife/Marianne Piche.

Southwick WMA: In 2008, MassWildlife purchased the former General Cigar Company property in Southwick. This approximately 250-acre parcel was predominately abandoned tobacco fields and was complemented by an additional 200 acres across the state line that was purchased at the same time by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection for the Suffield WMA. From the onset, these two properties were viewed as prime sites for grassland bird management due to their size, ability to support sandplain grassland community, and their proximity to two other important sandplain grassland sites: Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee, Massachusetts, and Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport in Westfield, Massachusetts. In fact, when purchased, both WMA properties supported small Grasshopper Sparrow populations, though the Southwick WMA population had disappeared by 2013 due to succession and the proliferation of invasive plant species. In 2015, and based upon the recommendations of the Grassland Bird Plan, MassWildlife initiated another ambitious grassland restoration effort aimed at maximizing the size and integrity of the sandplain grassland community at the Southwick WMA. This work focused on removing hedgerows, controlling invasive species, and restoring warm-season grasses across the site to create a contiguous, high quality grassland habitat of 250 acres, or about 400 acres when including the adjacent Suffield WMA. As with the Frances A. Crane WMA, the impact of the work at Southwick WMA was almost immediate. As the little bluestem became established in 2017, approximately 10 singing male Grasshopper Sparrows were documented on the site, along with strong numbers of Eastern Meadowlarks (Sturnella magna) and Savanna Sparrows (MassWildlife unpublished data). MassWildlife intends to introduce prescribed fire onto the site in 2018 and has just purchased an additional 80 acres adjacent to the existing grassland, some of which will be managed as grassland habitat.

Bolton Flats WMA: The core of the Pine Hills section of Bolton Flats WMA in Lancaster is a 130-acre former gravel mine that had traditionally supported a small population of Vesper Sparrows (Pooecetes gramineus), but had been succeeding to forest over the past decade. Based on this history, the size of the site, and its ability to support a sandplain grassland community, the Grassland Bird Plan identified the Pine Hills section of the WMA as the third opportunity for MassWildlife to actively manage for grassland birds on their properties. In 2014, the encroaching trees within the entire footprint of the former gravel mine were mowed, and by the summer of 2015 not only had a robust sandplain grassland community reestablished itself from the rootstock and seed bank, but Grasshopper and Vesper Sparrows quickly increased in numbers. Prescribed fire will be introduced in 2018 along with occasional targeted mowing to continue to push this toward a grass-dominated system.

Although these three wildlife management areas demonstrate successful Grasshopper Sparrow conservation, the majority of these birds in Massachusetts are found on military bases and municipal airports. MassWildlife works with staff at these sites to promote Grasshopper Sparrows and implement mitigation measures when applicable. The largest population of Grasshopper Sparrows occurs at the Westover Air Reserve Base in the Connecticut River Valley. The site is characterized by approximately 1,300 acres of grassland on well-drained sandy soils, and the habitat is managed through a combination of mowing and prescribed burns. In recent years, as part of an effort to encourage little bluestem, a native warm-season grass, the base has increased the use of prescribed burning and has begun employing a spring application of an herbicide and plant growth regulator that suppresses cool-season grasses. Exotic cool-season grasses grow quickly in spring requiring multiple mowings to keep the grass height low for aircraft safety concerns. Not only do native warm-season grasses allow for delayed mowing, but these bunch grasses provide ideal habitat for Grasshopper Sparrows as they offer the vegetative structure and bare ground necessary for foraging and nesting. In fact, grassland habitat in the form of hayfields generally does not support Grasshopper Sparrows because the vegetation is too dense. Given its large size and favorable management, Westover has been documented as supporting over 200 singing male Grasshopper Sparrows in recent years, making it the most important site for this species in all of New England (MassWildlife unpublished data).

Other Massachusetts sites that support substantial populations of Grasshopper Sparrow include the Westfield-Barnes and Plymouth airports. As with Westover, aircraft safety is a primary importance, and MassWildlife has worked with both airports to conserve Grasshopper Sparrows at these sites. At each site, surveys for Grasshopper Sparrows are conducted every couple of years, and a management plan has been implemented that will allow for aircraft safety and sparrow conservation. Municipal airports, military bases, and capped landfills provide important Grasshopper Sparrow sites in Massachusetts, and MassWildlife will continue to work with these organizations to conserve Grasshopper Sparrow populations through regulations provided by the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act.

Grasshopper Sparrows in other New England States

Compared to Massachusetts, the Grasshopper Sparrow is even more rare throughout the rest of New England. The more heavily forested states of Maine and New Hampshire do not support many nesting Grasshopper Sparrows, but the birds do remain at some managed grasslands, air fields, and landfills. In New Hampshire, the state-wide population of Grasshopper Sparrow is approximately 40 pairs. There are only three sites with more than five pairs of nesting Grasshopper Sparrows, and these are the Portsmouth International Airport at Pease, Concord Municipal Airport, and the Dillant-Hopkins Airport in Keene (P. Hunt, personal communication). Similarly, Maine has no more than five sites supporting nesting Grasshopper Sparrows, and these are all in the southeastern portion of the state. The 600-acre Kennebunk Plains complex in Kennebunk and the California Fields Wildlife Area in Hollis support most of the nesting Grasshopper Sparrows in Maine.

Grasshopper Sparrow at Frances A. Crane Wildlife Management Area. Photograph by MassWildlife/Bill Byrne.

In Vermont there are a limited number of sites in the agricultural area along Lake Champlain, and, according to eBird, during 2015–2017 the only multi-pair sites were the National Guard Camp Johnson in Colchester and the Franklin County State Airport in Swanton. Three other sites in Vermont had single observations of Grasshopper Sparrows. Rhode Island has only a single site—the Frances Carter Preserve in Charlestown—where Grasshopper Sparrows are reliable nesters. There are more nesting sites in Connecticut, with most of them being clustered within the Connecticut River valley. In addition to the Suffield WMA, multiple pairs of Grasshopper Sparrows are found at the Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, the Hartford Landfill, Rentschler Field in East Hartford, and Robertson Field in Plainville.

Because Grasshopper Sparrows require large patches of suitable habitat for nesting, conservation efforts targeting this species should benefit other grassland birds as well as species of concern in other taxonomic groups such as reptiles, invertebrates, and plants. For instance, the Frances A. Crane and Southwick WMAs and Westover Air Reserve Base all support nesting meadowlarks, with Westover hosting the most meadowlarks of any single site in Massachusetts. Other grasslands in Massachusetts that support important populations of nonlisted grassland birds include the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, the Common Pasture in Newburyport and Newbury, Woodsom Farm in Amesbury, and Mass Audubon's Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuary in Marshfield.

Conclusions

The Grasshopper Sparrow is state-listed as a threatened or endangered species throughout New England and is part of the region's natural heritage. The species is in urgent need of conservation, and its long-term persistence in the region is now largely dependent on anthropogenic management. Given that, it is up to conservation organizations to monitor and manage for this species to ensure its continued existence in New England. In Massachusetts, the state wildlife agency has partnered with other conservation-oriented organizations to promote Grasshopper Sparrow and other grassland bird populations, and the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act provides a layer of habitat protection in areas with nesting Grasshopper Sparrows. Together these actions lay the groundwork to maintain sustainable populations of Grasshopper Sparrows and ultimately the entire suite of grassland birds in Massachusetts.

Literature Cited

Forbush, E.H. 1929. Birds of Massachusetts and Other New England States. Boston: Massachusetts Department of Agriculture.
Jones, A. L. 2000. Grasshopper Sparrow metapopulation dynamics and conservation strategies in Massachusetts. M.S. Thesis. University of Massachusetts-Amherst.
Mineau, P. and M. Whiteside. 2013. Pesticide acute toxicity is a better correlate of U.S. grassland bird declines than agricultural intensification. PLOS One 8(2):e57457. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0057457.
Perlut, N.G., A. M. Strong, T. M. Donovan, and N.J. Buckley. 2006. Grassland songbirds in a dynamic management landscape: behavioral responses and management strategies. Ecological Applications 16: 2235–2247.
Sauer, J. R., J. E. Hines, J. E. Fallon, K. L. Pardieck, D. J. Ziolkowski Jr., and W. A. Link. 2011. The North American Breeding Bird Survey, Results and Analysis 1966 - 2015. Version 2.07.2017. Laurel, Maryland: USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center.
Vickery, P. D. 1996. Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Vickery, P. D. and P. W. Dunwiddie. 1997. Grasslands of Northeastern North America: Ecology and Conservation of Native and Agricultural Landscapes (Vickery and Dunwiddie, eds.). Lincoln: Massachusetts Audubon Society.

Andrew Vitz is the state ornithologist for the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. He spent the summer of 1998 collecting data on the Florida Grasshopper Sparrow (subspecies) nesting success and population status. The principal investigator of the project was Dr. Peter Vickery of the Massachusetts Audubon Society, and on this project Andrew met his wife, Marja Bakermans. The Florida Grasshopper Sparrow is currently on the brink of extinction, and is now being captive reared by biologists trying to save the bird from the same fate as the Dusky Seaside Sparrow whose last known individual expired in captivity on June 17, 1987.

Chris Buelow is the restoration ecologist for the Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program where he has focused on the restoration and management of rare species habitat and important natural communities across the Commonwealth for the past 15 years. Over this time, the relationship between sandplain grassland and the specialized species that these communities support— including Grasshopper Sparrow—has been a major aspect of his work. Chris is lifelong resident of Hardwick, Massachusetts, where he lives with his wife Jenna and daughter Vladia.

A Thankful Salute to a Dynamic Duo: Carolyn and John Marsh

Sun, 01 Apr 2018 00:00:00 GMT

This self-described neophyte birding team first showed up on the Bird Observer radar screen in the mid-1980s following a recommendation by the late Miriam Dickey—a beloved Mass Audubon teacher who for many years served as a mentor to new birders and aspiring ornithologists—that Carolyn should subscribe to Bird Observer, which she enthusiastically did in 1986. This happened to be at a time when the journal was periodically offering birding workshops for folks who had a burgeoning interest in birds. Today, Carolyn claims that her connection to Bird Observer journal and these birding workshops were major enhancers of her birding education.

But this was only the beginning. In 1997, Carolyn took on the role of Subscription Manager of the journal, a position she held until 2003, and late in 1997 she was also elected to the Board of Directors, a position she actively held until 2016. As a result of Carolyn's enthusiasm for the journal, vision for its content, and her proven skill at managing both authors and copy, in 2004 she earned the distinction of becoming Managing Editor. During the two years of Carolyn's editorship, she oversaw the publication of such timely or original articles as "The First Annual Superbowl of Birding," "Good News for Massachusetts Birds: Introducing Massachusetts eBird www.massaudubon.org/ebird," and "The Digital Camera as an Identification Tool." On her watch, the first and only insect appeared as an At A Glance mystery feature; as well as the first and only color cover for the print journal to celebrate the 2004 occurrence of a Red-footed Falcon on Martha's Vineyard. She also maintained the tradition of the journal by featuring such important articles as "A Springtime Exploration of Essex County's Coastal Islands with Notes on Their Historic Use by Colonially Nesting Birds," "First Nest Record of Common Raven in Essex County," "The ‘Wellesley Boys'—Contributions to Continental Birding," and "Bird Conservation and the Important Bird Area (IBA) Program: It's All About Habitat."

While Carolyn was artfully guiding and maintaining the mission of Bird Observer as the Managing Editor, in 2004 her husband John quietly stepped up to take over her long-standing role as Subscription Manager. This transition ultimately resulted in the effective movement of the journal's subscription base into the digital age of the 21st century. The Board of Directors of Bird Observer will forever be in debt to John Marsh for his nearly seamless and effective management of the subscriptions and circulation of the journal during this tedious transition period. As if this wasn't long enough, John also graciously served on the Board of the journal from 2005-2011 and from 2014-2016. During these final three years, Carolyn also graciously agreed to serve as vice-president.

Unfortunately volunteerism often goes under-recognized. And in an organization where everyone since the genesis of the journal has been a volunteer, it can be difficult to single out individuals. However, in the case of Carolyn and John Marsh, it is a distinction clearly deserving of recognition. So without saying anything further, let it simply be said: Carolyn and John, a HUGE THANK YOU for all that you have done to help make our modest journal the publication that it is today, and for sharing your wisdom and good humor for all the years that you have given us. Best of luck in whatever you two decide to conquer next, and good birding always!

Twenty-first Report of the Massachusetts Avian Records Committee

Sun, 01 Apr 2018 00:00:00 GMT

One species was added to the official state list, Common Greenshank, and two were removed, Thayer's Gull and Monk Parakeet. The official state list of Massachusetts currently stands at 501.

Tim Spahr and Brian Harris unearthed a photograph from the depths of the internet labeled as a Greater Yellowlegs, taken in Gloucester on December 8, 2014. The photographer confirmed the date and location of the photograph, which was also supported by metadata. The photograph indeed was a Tringa shorebird, but had dull yellow-green legs instead of bright yellow legs, a mostly white face with a large white gap between the bill and the dark coloration on the forehead, and uniform scapular feathers. The identification was clearly Common Greenshank. This record is not only a first for Massachusetts, but represents one of very few records in eastern North America. Coincidentally, only two weeks after this post hoc discovery, a Common Greenshank was found in New Jersey in late October 2017.

Black-backed Oriole, Putnam Hill Road, Sutton, 5/7/2017. Photograph by Margaret Bowden.

On May 7–8, 2017, a homeowner in Sutton noticed a bright orange oriole at their feeders that was not a Baltimore. They circulated photographs to some local birders, who were astonished to see it was a Black-backed Oriole, an endemic species of central Mexico! Not only that, but certain unique facial markings are identical to that of an individual that visited some feeders at Sinking Spring, PA in January-April 2017. It is a near certainty these two sightings are of the same individual. The committee unanimously rejected this record on the first round on the grounds of provenance. Black-backed Oriole is an altitudinal local migrant, and has not been shown to occur naturally outside of Mexico. In addition, the species is found in the caged bird trade to at least some capacity. The committee was not convinced that a wild origin was significantly more likely than a captive origin, so it decided to be cautious. Many more details and photos can be found on our website at <maavianrecords.com/black-backed-oriole/>.

This report treats records of two rare northern owls that both were identified originally as their southern congeners. During the Super Bowl of Birding XIV hosted by Mass Audubon, a small roosting owl was photographed and identified as a Northern Saw-Whet Owl. The photos, however, later revealed a Boreal Owl. Despite extensive searching, the owl was never relocated after the initial observation. In the Nungee Swamp in Hampshire County, a foraging owl in an open field was photographed and identified as a Barred Owl on eBird. Weeks after the fact, Brian Rusnica came across the eBird report of a Barred Owl and alerted the birding community to the apparent presence of a Great Gray Owl. Once again however, this owl was never refound.

Other highlights in the report include a Magnificent Frigatebird that was photographed during a whale watch at Stellwagen Bank in June 2017; eight Ross's Goose reports; four Mew Gull reports; and seven Painted Bunting reports. Ross's Geese clearly have exploded into the Northeast, with at least 19 total records in the past 10 years in Massachusetts alone, and only three scattered records prior to that.

During the annual meeting in December 2017, the committee decided to remove two species from the state list. Following recommendations of the American Ornithological Society, the committee delisted Thayer's Gull as a full species and instead now considers it a subspecies of Iceland Gull (Chesser et al. 2017). Furthermore, the committee removed Monk Parakeet from the official state list since no records of this species have received any official action from the committee. The MARC would welcome any submissions of older records of this species from the state.

The website of the committee received a dramatic renovation, with several new features added such as a report form and a searchable database of all accepted records. Visit here: www.maavianrecords.com.

The 2016–17 roster of MARC voting members included Nick Block, Ian Davies, Mark Faherty, Jessica Johnson, Wayne Petersen, Tim Spahr, Ryan Schain, Scott Surner, and Jeremiah R. Trimble (chair). Sean Williams served as secretary.

In this truncated report, we present basic statistics for each record of each species or taxon covered: the record number, count of individuals, where and when the bird was seen, and who submitted evidence. We also indicate if the evidence provided was photographic (ph), video (v), audio (au), or a written submission (†). As always, the committee strongly encourages written submissions even where photographs exist. When known, we try to credit the discoverer with an asterisk (*), especially if he or she has supplied evidence. The statistics in brackets for each species or taxon show the number of individual birds accepted through records in this report, followed by the total number of MARC-accepted individual records for that species.

Species taxonomy and nomenclature follow the seventh edition of the American Ornithological Society (AOS, recently changed from American Ornithologists' Union) Check-list of North American Birds (AOU 1998) and its supplements (Chesser et al. 2009, Chesser et al. 2010, Chesser et al. 2011, Chesser et al. 2012, Chesser et al. 2013, Chesser et al. 2014, Chesser et al. 2015, Chesser et al. 2016, Chesser et al. 2017).

The list of species reviewed by the MARC (the Review List) is available at <www.maavianrecords.com>. Please check out the full Review List and send us any evidence of new or old records you may have—even in this Information Age we often do not receive sufficient information for many records.

ACCEPTED RECORDS

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis) [1, 9]

2014-071: 1 at Cohasset Golf Club, Southbridge, Worcester, 6/9/2014 to 6/22/2014 [Vivian Brooks* (ph)]

Ross's Goose (Anser rossii) [8, 22]

2016-025: 1 at Parker River NWR to Ipswich fields, Essex, 12/28/2016 to 1/7/2017 [Tom Whetmore, Suzanne Sullivan (ph)]

2017-019: 1 at Sudbury Reservoir, Worcester, 3/12/2017 to 3/13/2017 [Mark Lynch and Sheila Carroll*, Justin Lawson (ph)]

2017-020: 1 at Westborough Reservoir, Westborough, Worcester, 3/28/2017 to 3/30/2017 [Bette Robo* (ph)]

2017-031: 1 at Longmeadow Flats, Longmeadow/Agawam, Hampden, 1/18/2017 [Dorrie Holmes* (ph)]

2017-033: 1 at Bear Creek Sanctuary, Saugus, Essex, 1/14/2017 to 2/1/2017 [Geoff Wilson* (ph)]

2017-034: 1 at Arcade Pond, Whitinsville, Worcester, 2/23/2017 to 2/24/2017 [Edward Kittredge*, Sean Williams (ph)]

2017-035: 1 at Arlington Reservoir, Arlington, and Waltham Street Fields, Lexington, Middlesex, 3/3/2017 to 3/8/2017 [John Andrews* (ph), Chris Floyd (ph)]

2017-036: 1 at Corbin's Neck, Bartholomew's Cobble (TTOR), Ashley Falls, Berkshire, 4/20/2017 [Greg Ward* (ph)]

Pink-footed Goose (Anser brachyrhynchus) [3, 13]

2016-022: 1 at West Newbury, Newburyport, and Ipswich, Essex, 11/6/2016 to 3/10/2017 [Robert Gervais*]

2016-023: 1 at Stockbridge Street, Hadley, UMass Amherst Campus Pond, Amherst, Hampshire, 12/6/2016 to 12/10/2017 [Larry Therrien* (ph)]

2016-024: 1 at Cambridge Reservoir and at Newbury Field, Concord, Middlesex, 12/4/2017 to 12/15/2017 [Cliff Cook*, Jason Forbes (ph)]

Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) [6, 23]

2016-026: 1 at Johnson Pond, Groveland and Kenoza Lake, Haverhill, Essex, 10/23/2016 to 12/22/2016 [Marj Watson* (ph)]

2016-027: 1 at Sesachacha Pond, Nantucket, Nantucket, 12/31/2016 to 4/23/2017 [Sean Williams* (ph)]

2017-037: 1 at Silver Lake, Wilmington, Middlesex, 3/16/2017 to 3/18/2017 [Suzanne Sullivan* (ph)]

2017-039: 1 at Great Herring Pond, Plymouth, Plymouth, 3/26/2017 to 4/2/2017 [Alan Kneidel* (ph), Nathan Marchessault*]

2017-041: 1 at Keyes Brook Pond, Princeton, Worcester, 5/14/2017 to 5/15/2017 [Tom Pirro* (ph)]

2017-059: 1 at Pocksha Pond, Lakeville, Plymouth, 2/19/2017 to 3/19/2017 [Jim Sweeney* (ph)]

Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica) [2, 25]

2017-018: 1 at Head of the Meadow, Truro, Barnstable, 6/30/2017 [Matt Levanowitz* (ph)]

2017-049: 1 at Race Point, Provincetown, Barnstable, 6/7/2017 [Blair Nikula*, Peter Trimble* (ph)]

Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens) [1, 4]

2017-015: 1 at Stellwagen Bank, Barnstable, 6/10/2017 [Joanne Jarzobski* (ph)]

Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster) [1,6]

2017-013: 1 at Ludlow, MA, Hampden, June 2017 [courtesy of Jean Yobst-Fournier (ph)]. Amazingly, a Brown Booby was perched on the guard rail of a bridge under construction in Ludlow. A passerby photographed and posted it to a local bird photography Facebook group, where it quickly gained attention.

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) [4, 12]

2017-050: 1 at Crane Beach, Ipswich (5/6), Annisquam, Gloucester (5/6), Point of Pines, Revere (5/8), Essex/Suffolk, 5/6/2017 to 5/8/2017 [Nathan Dubrow* (ph), Robert Sherman* (ph), Eric Harrison* (ph)]

2017-051: 1 at Newburyport to Cape Ann, Essex, 6/17/2017 to 7/30/2017 [Michael Densmore* (ph), Rick Heil (ph), Max McCarthy (ph)]

2017-052: 1 at Squantum, Quincy, Norfolk, 7/7/2017 [Matt Garvey* (ph)]

2017-053: 1 at Great Point, Nantucket, Nantucket, 7/1/2017 [Allison Renaud* (ph)]

White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi) [1, 23]

2017-040: 1 at Seaview Farm, Rockport, Essex, 5/13/2017 [Sean Williams* (ph), Jacob Socolar*]

Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus) [1, 14]

2017-008: 1 at Mashpee NWR, Mashpee and Falmouth, Barnstable, 4/17/2017 [Karen Fiske*]

Mississippi Kite (Ictinia mississippiensis) [2, 15]

Mississippi Kite, Provincetown, 6/4/2017. Photograph by Sean Williams.

2017-044: 3 at Province Lands, Provincetown, Barnstable, 6/4/2017 [Sean Williams* (ph)]

2017-045: 2 at Beech Forest, Provincetown, Barnstable, 5/19/2017 [Maryellen Stone* (ph)]

Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinicus) [1, 10]

2017-042: 1 at Miacomet Pond, Nantucket, Nantucket, 5/27/2017 to 5/30/2017 [Libby Buck* (ph)]

Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) [1, 13]

2017-054: 1 at Nauset Marsh, Orleans to Pleasant Bay (lastly on South Beach), Chatham, Barnstable, 06/17/2017 to 07/19/2017 [Blair Nikula (ph)]

Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) [1, 1]

2014-072: 1 at Gloucester, Essex, 12/8/2014 [Stan Deutsch* (ph), Tim Spahr, Brian Harris]

Franklin's Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan) [4, 17]

Franklin's Gull, Race Point, Provincetown, 6/3/2017. Photograph by Blair Nikula.

2017-046: 1 at Race Point, Provincetown, Barnstable, 6/2/2017 to 6/15/2017 [Blair Nikula* (ph), Joe Bourget* (ph)]

2017-047: 1 at Race Point, Provincetown, Barnstable, 6/16/2017 to 6/17/2017 [Peter Flood]

2017-048: 1 at Race Point, Provincetown, Barnstable, 6/7/2017 [Blair Nikula*, Peter Trimble* (ph)]

2017-061: 1 at Race Point, Provincetown, Barnstable, 6/24/2017 to 6/29/2017 [Peter Flood* (ph)]. How many Franklin's Gulls were present at Race Point in June 2017? Apparently no fewer than four, as is evident by varying molts of well-photographed birds. Historically, June has not been a month typically associated with Franklin's Gull records in Massachusetts.

Mew Gull (Larus canus) [4, 12]

2017-003: 1 at Lynn Beach, Nahant, Essex, 2/25/2017 to 2/28/2017 [John Quigley* (ph), Joe Bourget (ph), Dan Prima]

2017-005: 1 at Race Point, Provincetown, Barnstable, 3/26/2017 [Blair Nikula* (ph)]

2017-006: 1 at Race Point, Provincetown, Barnstable, 4/15/2017 [Will Sweet* (ph)]

2017-007: 1 at Race Point, Provincetown, Barnstable, 4/15/2017 [Alan Kneidel*, Nathan Marchessault* (ph)]. Lightning struck twice on April 15, 2017 at Race Point. Will Sweet was birding independent of Alan Kneidel and Nathan Marchessault and both parties reported a Mew Gull. Of course, the logical conclusion would have been that the same bird had been sighted twice. However, photographs revealed two completely different individuals, one a clean, breeding-plumaged "European" Mew Gull and a streaky-headed "Kamchatka" Mew Gull!

Above left, Mew Gull, Race Point, Provincetown, 4/23/2017. Photograph by Will Sweet. Above right, Mew Gull, Race Point, Provincetown, 4/23/2017. Photograph by Alan Kneidel.

White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) [1, 24]

2017-043: 1 at Schoolhouse Pond, Chatham, Barnstable, 6/2/2017 [James Junda* (ph)]. Chatham seems to be a mecca for rare doves of Massachusetts.

Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa) [1, 7]

Great Gray Owl, Nungee Swamp, Williamsburg, 2/22/2017. Photograph by David Pritchard.

2017-002: 1 at Nungee Swamp, Williamsburg, Hampshire, 2/22/2017 [David Pritchard* (ph)]

Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus) [1, 9]

2017-001: 1 at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, Topsfield, Essex, 1/28/2017 [Andrea Bean* (ph)]

Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus) [Added to review list 2017; one record since then]

2017-032: 1 at 16 Bonny Lane, Peru, Berkshire, 1/2/2017 to 2/5/2017 [Richard Guthrie* (ph)]. This species has become very scarce in Massachusetts, with only a couple records in the past 10 years. The previous record was a bird that stayed for a few days in Squantum in November 2010.

Smith's Longspur (Calcarius pictus) [1, 4]

2017-004: 1 at Bear Creek Sanctuary, Saugus, Essex, 3/15/2017 to 4/9/2017 [Geoff Wilson* (ph)]. A Smith's Longspur was present at Bear Creek Sanctuary for the second year in a row. It is entirely up to speculation as to whether there are one or two individuals involved. The first record occurred 12/21/2015 to 1/20/2016.

Harris's Sparrow (Zonotrichia querula) [1, 12]

2017-060: 1 at Otis Avenue, Dalton, Berkshire, 11/25/2016 to 5/11/2017 [Gael Hurley* (ph)]

Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) [Added to review list 2017; one record since then]

2017-012: 1 at Quabbin Park, Belchertown, Hampshire, 5/31/2017 to 06/03/2017 [Larry Therrien* (ph)]

Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris) [7, 23]

2016-020: 1 female at Melrose Highlands, Melrose, Middlesex, 11/27/2016 [Devin Hefferon* (ph)]

2016-021: 2 (male and female) at Dukes Road, Nantucket, Nantucket, 11/27/2016 to 1/21/2017 [Trish Pastuszak* (ph)]

2017-038: 1 male at 229 Brick Hill Road, Orleans, Barnstable, 2/5/2017 to 04/14/2017 [Sue Finnegan (ph)]

2017-055: 1 female at Madaket, Nantucket, Nantucket, 05/12/2017 [Trish Pastuszak* (ph)]

2017-056: 1 male at Mountain View Drive, Huntington, Hampshire, 5/1/2017 to 5/2/2017 [Larry Therrien (ph)]

2017-057: 1 at Jewett Road, Sterling, Worcester, 5/25/2017 [Marion McDermott*]

2017-058: 1 at Blantyre Road, Centerville, Barnstable, 12/17/2016 to 12/19/2016 [Linda Iafrate (ph)]

NOT ACCEPTED

Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens)

2017-016: 1 at Salisbury Beach, Salisbury, Essex, 6/13/2017. This report potentially could have pertained to the same individual as 2017-015, although the members felt that the photograph was inconclusive and the description was too brief to rule out other frigatebird species, and potentially other seabirds.

Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)

2017-017: 2 at Salem, Essex, 6/17/2017 to 6/24/2017. It is difficult yet critical to evaluate certain features on Streptopelia doves, which include the color of the back and primaries, the color of the undertail coverts, and if the black coloration on other outer vane of the outer rectrix extends more posteriorly than the black coloration on the inner vane. These features are necessary to rule other the similar Streptopelia doves and their intergrades, which are common pets in the caged bird trade. Unfortunately, this report did not include those details and, therefore the committee determined that the supporting documentation for this identification was inconclusive.

Bicknell's Thrush (Catharus bicknelli)

2017-010: 1 at Marblehead Neck Wildlife Sanctuary, Marblehead, Essex, 5/23/2017. Certainly an intriguing report of an incredibly difficult identification. This record was supported by a description, photographs, and an audio recording. This report received support from a couple members who felt that the reddish tones of the bird coupled with the final phrase of the song being up-slurred was sufficient for acceptance. However, most members were not convinced that the photos and description of the physical appearance ruled out Gray-cheeked, although some members commented that separation of Gray-cheeked and Bicknell's Thrushes by physical appearance alone in the field may be impossible. The audio recording and description was the more critical part of this record. The songs of Gray-cheeked and Bicknell's Thrushes are distinct, with the final part of the song being typically down-slurred in Gray-cheeked and up-slurred in Bicknell's. The Bicknell's overall has a higher-pitched song than Gray-cheeked. Again, a couple members felt that they indeed could hear the final part of the song and that it corresponded to a typical Bicknell's. The other members, however, felt that the audio was not clear enough to be certain they were hearing the correct song, let alone the correct parts of the song. In addition, Gray-cheeked Thrushes can give isolated songs that contain an up-slurred final note similar to a Bicknell's. Therefore, for Bicknell's Thrush records in Massachusetts, it is critical to listen to a singing thrush over several songs and note whether the final parts of the songs are consistently up-slurred or down-slurred. Because the audio recording and description only pertained to a single song and despite the observers' excellent efforts at documenting this record, the members did not feel that Gray-cheeked had been ruled out with certainty.

Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera)

2017-009: 1 at Borderland State Park, North Easton, Bristol, 4/23/2017 [Stephen Peabody*, Zach Moser*]. The description did not attempt to rule out intergrades with Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera).

2017-011: 1 at Hopkins Memorial Forest, Williamstown, Berkshire, 5/28/2017 to 5/30/2017 [Ken Schopp* (ph)]. Photos revealed this bird had two whitish wing bars, which is a trait of Blue-winged Warbler.

Black-backed Oriole (Icterus abeillei)

2017-014: 1 at Putnam Hill Rd., Sutton, Worcester, 6/7/2017 to 6/8/2017 [Margaret Bowden* (ph)]. See the first part of this report for more details.

Literature cited

American Ornithologists' Union. 1998. Check-list of North American Birds, 7th ed. Lawrence, Kansas: American Ornithologists' Union.
Chesser, R. T., R. C. Banks, F. K. Barker, C. Cicero, J. L. Dunn, A. W. Kratter, I. J. Lovette, P. C. Rasmussen, J. V. Remsen Jr., J. D. Rising, D. F. Stotz, and K. Winker. 2009. Fiftieth Supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds. Auk 126 (3): 705–714.
Chesser, R. T., R. C. Banks, F. K. Barker, C. Cicero, J. L. Dunn, A. W. Kratter, I. J. Lovette, P. C. Rasmussen, J. V. Remsen Jr., J. D. Rising, D. F. Stotz, and K. Winker. 2010. Fifty-first Supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds. Auk 127 (3): 726–744.
Chesser, R. T., R. C. Banks, F. K. Barker, C. Cicero, J. L. Dunn, A. W. Kratter, I. J. Lovette, P. C. Rasmussen, J. V. Remsen Jr., J. D. Rising, D. F. Stotz, and K. Winker. 2011. Fifty-second supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds. Auk 128 (3): 600–613.
Chesser, R. T., R. C. Banks, F. K. Barker, C. Cicero, J. L. Dunn, A. W. Kratter, I. J. Lovette, P. C. Rasmussen, J. V. Remsen Jr., J. D. Rising, D. F. Stotz, and K. Winker. 2012. Fifty-third supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds. Auk 129 (3): 573–588.
Chesser, R. T., R. C. Banks, F. K. Barker, C. Cicero, J. L. Dunn, A. W. Kratter, I. J. Lovette, P. C. Rasmussen, J. V. Remsen Jr., J. D. Rising, D. F. Stotz, and K. Winker. 2013. Fifty-fourth supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds. Auk 130 (3): 558–571.
Chesser, R. T., R. C. Banks, C. Cicero, J. L. Dunn, A. W. Kratter, I. J. Lovette, A. G. Navarro-Sigüenza, P. C. Rasmussen, J. V. Remsen Jr., J. D. Rising, D. F. Stotz, and K. Winker. 2014. Fifty-fifth supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds. Auk 131: CSi–CSxv.
Chesser, R. T., R. C. Banks, K. J. Burns, C. Cicero, J. L. Dunn, A. W. Kratter, I. J. Lovette, A. G. Navarro-Sigüenza, P. C. Rasmussen, J. V. Remsen, Jr., J. D. Rising, D. F. Stotz, and K. Winker. 2015. Fifty-sixth supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds. Auk 132: 748–764.
Chesser, R. T., K. J. Burns, C. Cicero, J. L. Dunn, A. W. Kratter, I. J. Lovette, P. C. Rasmussen, J. V. Remsen, Jr., J. D. Rising, D. F. Stotz, and K. Winker. 2016. Fifty-seventh supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds. Auk 133: 544-560.
Chesser, R. T., K. J. Burns, C. Cicero, J. L. Dunn, A. W. Kratter, I. J. Lovette, P. C. Rasmussen, J. V. Remsen, Jr., J. D. Rising, D. F. Stotz, and K. Winker. 2017. Fifty-eighth supplement to the American Ornithological Society Check-list of North American Birds. Auk 134: 751 – 773.

Photo Essay: Birds of the 21st MARC Report

Sun, 01 Apr 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Boreal Chickadee, Bonny Lane, Peru. Photograph by Rene Wendell.

Purple Gallinule, Miacomet Pond, Nantucket, 5/28/2017. Photograph by Trish Pastuszak.

Gleanings: Feeders, Adaptation, and Fitness

Sun, 01 Apr 2018 00:00:00 GMT

From a genomic point of view, Great Tits have a large effective population size and high levels of gene flow. The authors started off with genetic analysis of over 2000 Great Tits, focusing on nearly a half million single nucleotide DNA changes—single nucleotide polymorphisms or SNPs. Computer analysis of the SNPs identified some that appeared to be under different selection pressures in the populations from England and the Netherlands. The majority of the genomic regions identified contained genes associated with skeletal development, bone growth, and palate development. The strongest SNPs were at genes that had been previously associated with beak shape in studies on Darwin's finches (subfamily Geospizinae). Over 3000 of the total SNPs were associated with bill length variability, suggesting that bill length control depends on expression of many genes. These genomic analyses suggested that bill morphology might be differentially controlled in the English and Netherlands Great Tit populations and, indeed, UK Great Tits have longer bills than the continental birds.

The authors carried out further analyses on the COL4A5 gene, a Type IV collagen gene, which was in a chromosomal segment most notably associated with variations in bill length. The analyses showed clear recent selection for longer bills in the UK population, with the COL4A5-C allele being much more abundant in the UK than in continental birds.

The mechanism of COL4A5-C selection leading to increased bill length was assessed by analyses of the reproductive success of birds containing this allele. The data showed that birds with one or two copies of the COL4A5-C allele were statistically more likely to successfully fledge young in the UK than were birds without that allele. Though not statistically significant, the opposite tendency was detected in the Netherlands birds. The authors suggest that adults possessing this allele have a fitness advantage in the UK population.

While there is no known difference in natural diet in UK versus mainland Europe Great Tits, there is a considerable difference in the availability of human-supplied birdseed. Birdfeeding in the UK has been widespread since the 19th century, and UK citizens spend twice as much on birdseed as the whole of mainland Europe. Great Tits are famously good at exploiting feeders, so the final piece of this puzzle is if feeder utilization could select for longer bills in Great Tits, as has been suggested for Eurasian Blackcaps (Sylvia atricapilla) by Rolshausen et al., 2009. Studies using RFID-enabled feeders in the British site over three winters showed that tits with two copies of the COL4A5-C allele were more likely to visit feeders than birds with one copy or none, and a follow-up study pairing feeding frequency with bill length showed a positive correlation.

Ultimately, this study provides a neat story of natural selection in a wild population of birds, starting from finding genetic differences in two remote populations, demonstrating a linkage between those genetic differences and genes important in bill morphology, breeding fitness as a measure of selection, and phenotypic variation and evolutionary change as a driver of selection. Clearly some of the connections in the chain of events can use further scrutiny, but the overall conclusion that Great Tits using birdfeeders in the UK show selection for longer bill length seems logical. Given the multi-gene basis of any morphological change, more studies are clearly needed to fill in the details.

References

Bosse, M., L.G. Spurgin, V.N. Laine, E.F. Cole, J.A. Firth, P. Glenapp, A. G. Gosler, K. McMahon, J.Poisssant, I. Verhagen, M.A.M. Groenen, K. van Oers, B.C. Sheldon, M.E. Visser, and J. Slate. 2017. Recent natural selection causes adaptive evolution of an avian polygenic trait. Science 358: 365–68.
Rolshausen, G., G. Segelbacher, K.A. Hobson, and H.M. Schaefer. 2009. Contemporary evolution of reproductive isolation and phenotypic divergence in sympatry along a migratory divide. Current Biology 19: 2097–101.

David M. Larson, PhD, is the Science and Education Coordinator at Mass Audubon's Joppa Flats Education Center in Newburyport, the Director of Mass Audubon's Birder's Certificate Program and the Certificate Program in Bird Ecology (a course for naturalist guides in Belize), a domestic and international tour leader, President of the Nuttall Ornithological Club, and a member of the editorial staff of Bird Observer.

Field Notes: Yellow-Crowned Night-Heron Displaying

Sun, 01 Apr 2018 00:00:00 GMT

The h-whoops—repeated at short, regular intervals—were nearby and overhead. We looked up to find a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron in full breeding plumage displaying on a bare branch diagonally over the water and directly above us, not more than 3–4 feet away. It ignored us completely and repeated its display approximately every 20 seconds. We'd finally found the last heron we were looking for. We scanned the mangroves looking for a female but found no other night-herons.

Neither of us had ever seen a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron display. Usually, the night-herons we see are the occasional juvenile skulking in the phragmites at Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary or birds flying high above as they leave the Eastham roost for the night.

This bird's display was magnificent with its fancy feathers, fanned-out wings, and striking yellow forehead brighter than its crown. Standing on the branch, the night-heron stretched its body fully upright but kept its beak horizontal. Then it leaned forward and in a swift, fluid motion lowered its breast—with its scapular plumes bursting up fanlike behind its head—until its breast grazed the bottom of the branch and was lower than its tail. At that point it flared its wings open and upward, transforming itself into a slaty gray fan with contrasting silvery plumes and a central yellow spot that glowed like a tiny sun. Then with a h-whoop, it reversed it movements and resumed its posture as a bird on a branch. The entire display took about three seconds. We were speechless with wonder. It reminded me somewhat of the display of a Bird of Paradise.

Later, when I accessed the refuge's website in search of its bird list, I found this fact about Yellow-crowned Night-Herons: "By building their nests over alligator habitats, their hatchlings are protected from other pesky predators like raccoons." <https://www.fws.gov/refuge/JN_Ding_Darling/Big_five.html> So from now on, we'll look down into the mangrove swamp waters for alligators and up into the mangrove trees for Yellow-crowned Night-Herons and their nests.

Field Notes: Presumed Gadwall x Green-winged Teal Hybrid

Sun, 01 Apr 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Before describing the features that made me conclude that the bird was probably a hybrid Gadwall x Green-winged Teal, I want to describe some of the other species that I considered and why I rejected them as possible parents of this bird. I considered both American and Eurasian wigeon as possibilities, however the complete lack of any warm-brown coloration on the body eliminated American Wigeon. Further investigation of these wigeon hybrids also showed that most exhibit traces of light blue on the bill, which this bird did not have.

The closest contender then became Northern Pintail. From behind, the gray on the duck's body crept up the neck and onto the back of the head, which was suggestive of a male pintail. The smaller than average patch of creamy white on the undertail coverts also suggested the possibility of an intermediate feature between Green-winged Teal and Northern Pintail, as did the dull gray on the body and upper wing feathers. Other features were inconsistent with pintail, however, which made me conclude that this species was not one of the parents. The head shape of the hybrid was blocky, and did not in any way resemble the elegance of a pintail's head and long, slender neck. The tail was also average size for a dabbling duck, not slightly elongated as one might expect if there were pintail genes involved. The clincher for removing this species as a possibility was the white in the tertials of this bird, a feature lacking in Northern Pintail and Green-winged Teal.

The overall appearance of this bird was perfectly intermediate between a Gadwall and a Green-winged Teal. Even the size of the bird was intermediate between the two species. The head shape closely resembled that of a Gadwall, but plainly showed the pattern of a male Green-winged Teal. The back, much of the wing, and body coloration, also seemed to be intermediate between the two: a bit warmer in color than the average Green-winged Teal and grayer than a male Gadwall. The cream-colored patch near the vent was subdued when compared to a Green-winged Teal, and much of it was replaced with black as in a typical Gadwall. Perhaps the most interesting feature of this bird was its wings. Most of the gray portions of the upper wings of the hybrid were typical of both species; however, the pure white secondaries with rufous brown coverts above clearly indicated its Gadwall origin, and a small portion of iridescent green on the secondaries adjacent to the white feathering suggested Green-winged Teal.

On a return trip to the Water Treatment Plant on January 27, 2018, I was amazed to see that the hybrid was still present. These ponds had frozen over completely in early January, so it must have departed temporarily and then returned later for more tasty sewage. On my second visit, I observed the hybrid quarreling with a male Gadwall over a female, but it was visibly overpowered by its larger competitor. The bird vocalized during this exchange and, interestingly, had the nasal quacks of a Gadwall. The bird was still present on January 29.

Gadwall x Green-winged Teal hybrids are apparently rare, although not unprecedented. There is significant range overlap in their breeding ranges. Both species readily breed in prairie regions throughout Canada and the western United States. Both species are also ground breeders that will nest in brush and tall grasses. The greatest barrier to crossbreeding between these two species would seem to be size variation between the two, which to me, would suggest that a drake Gadwall and a hen Green-winged Teal were the parents. Perhaps it's not the flashiest hybrid waterfowl, but incredibly interesting nonetheless.

About Books: Two Lives with Birds

Sun, 01 Apr 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Some of these cameo appearances are surreal. Emanuel became acquainted with George W. and Laura Bush while Bush was still governor of Texas. Later, when Bush was President, Laura invited Emanuel to lead a birding outing for the wives of world leaders at the G8 conference on Sea Island, Georgia. What happened next was worthy of a Saturday Night Live skit:

Although Mrs. Putin was dressed more for a cocktail party than a bird outing, she appeared to be one of the most interested—other than Laura—in what we were seeing and asked many questions through her interpreter. Mrs. Blair was also engaged and told me that a member of her husband's staff was an avid birder. Madame Chirac seemed the least interested in what we were seeing—almost to the point of boredom. She never lifted her binoculars; instead, her assistant carried the binoculars for her throughout the entire excursion. (p. 194, One More Warbler)

Emanuel was born in Houston, Texas, and though he has traveled to the far-flung corners of the globe, Texas is still where his birding heart lies. His second favorite place in the world is the valley of the El Triunfo volcano in Mexico where he has found the rare and local Horned Guan, along with many other species. He fell in love with the habitats, people, and birds of that area and has visited it numerous times.

At a very early age he became interested in "birds, butterflies, crayfish, snakes, turtles, and fish" (p. 4). Several events fortuitously happened to Emanuel that turned this childhood interest in the wonders of the natural world into a lifelong passion for birds. While in his young teens, he found older mentors by hanging out with the members of the Outdoor Nature Club, a rag-tag group of much older gentlemen. Two members in particular, Armand Yramategui and Joe Heiser, took him on long field trips, including trips to Mexico. From them he learned the joys of exploring new birding habitats and many keys to identifying species in the field. It is a testament to how much times have changed to think about how most parents today would react to the notion of a group of older men taking their young son on an overnight trip.

Emanuel was only ten years old when he participated in his first Christmas Bird Count, the one in Houston, Texas. In 1955, at only 15 years old, he did his first out-of-state CBC in Xilitla, Mexico, where he saw his first Emerald Toucanets and Blue-crowned Motmots. Later, in 1957, he started the Freeport, Texas, CBC, which for many years was known for tallying the most species on any CBC in the United States and has attracted the participation of leading birders from all over the country. Also in 1957, he witnessed his first migrant "fallout" in Texas, and this event began his life-long passion for warblers.

It is fascinating to learn that Victor Emanuel almost did not have a "life with birds." After graduating high school, he attended the University of Texas and later Harvard, studying political science with the goal to become a professor in that field. While at Harvard he met Peter Alden, then at the Massachusetts Audubon Society, who told Emanuel that he was now leading birding trips for MAS as a paying job. By the end of the sixties, Emanuel was working at the Institute for Urban Studies at the University of Houston, when he again bumped into Alden who regaled him with tales of his birding trips around the world. Emanuel then began to seriously envy Alden's life and to question his own. What finally changed his life was when in 1970 he got a call from Illinois banker Dean Gorham who was in Texas on business. He asked Emanuel if he would take him and his wife out for a day's birding for pay. Emanuel did, and from that humble beginning a life's direction was forever changed and VENT was born.

One More Warbler is filled with Emanuel's detailed stories of seeing bird species. On March 22, 1959, Victor Emanuel saw what he still declares is the "bird of my life" (p. 33), an Eskimo Curlew.

The short-grass pasture was dotted with fresh cow pies and surrounded by a barbed-wire fence. Among the many shorebirds in the field were American Golden Plovers, Black-bellied Plovers, Upland Sandpipers, Killdeer, Whimbrels, Long-billed Curlews, Buff-breasted Sandpipers, Lesser Yellowlegs, and Pectoral Sandpipers. Thanks to the recent dairy cattle droppings, the field was rich in invertebrate life, which provided an abundance of food for these birds. When I put up my binoculars, I immediately saw a small buffy curlew. I told my friends that we needed to get out of the car and set up our Bushnell scopes. (p. 35, One More Warbler)

What follows is the stuff of birding legends, and Emanuel devotes an entire chapter to his experiences seeing this likely now extinct North American shorebird.

One More Warbler is a wonderful read, an engrossing and entertaining account of a person who helped change the way we bird by offering guided birding excursions around the world, developing birding networks, and leading special programs for young birders. The book is also an interesting history of how birding has changed and evolved in the last 50 years. By the end of the book, Emanuel is obviously not as spry as he was in his youth, but he is still out in the field whenever he can be, enjoying birds, his passion and zeal undiminished. It is the perfect way that most of us would like to lead our birding life. Highly recommended.

"Massachusetts is the seventh smallest state in land area of any state in the United States, yet it boasts a total bird list of over 500 species, a number that places it among the top ten states in the country." (p. xxvi, Field Guide to Birds of Massachusetts)

The American Birding Association is publishing a nifty (not a word I use often) new series of state bird guides. They are compact, sturdy, and beautifully illustrated with color photography. They are the perfect guides for serious beginning birders or as introductions to a state's avifauna for out of state birders. Because of size constraints, not all of any state's birds are covered— only the most frequently reported. Though there are certainly identification details for every species, each species account also includes notes on that species' historical occurrence in that state and where in the state the species may most often appear. So far there are guides to the birds of Texas, California, New York, and the Carolinas. These ABA state guides are beautifully bound and illustrated, making them collectible by those of us who are fanatic ornithobibliophiles. One of the latest volumes in the series is the Field Guide to Birds of Massachusetts by Wayne R. Petersen.

Wayne Petersen is a name well known to birders. Among his many accomplishments, he has been the co-editor of the Massachusetts Breeding Bird Atlas 2, Director of the Massachusetts Important Bird Areas program, and New England Regional Editor for North American Birds magazine and the New England section of the Christmas Bird Counts. Petersen is also co-author of what is still one of the most important historical accounts of birds in the state, Birds of Massachusetts (Veit and Petersen 1993). He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Bird Observer. In 2005 he was the recipient of the American Birding Association Ludlow Griscom Award for outstanding contributions in regional ornithology. You would be hard-pressed to find a more knowledgeable author for a bird guide to Massachusetts.

The Field Guide to Birds of Massachusetts is a wonderfully concise introduction to birds in the state. There are sections on the ornithological history of the state, a month-by-month rundown of what birds to expect, and a fine west-to-east summary of the state's ornithogeography. There are the usual sections on bird topology and an outstanding section on how to identify birds. The chatty and evocative accounts are unlike the usual terse descriptions found in most contemporary field guides, and this style makes it a guide you will actually read.

Each of the 248 species accounts is accompanied by at least one good color photograph by Brian Small. Most of the state's breeding species are included as well as a good selection of the more regularly occurring migrants and winter visitors. Because the focus is solely on birds of Massachusetts, this is a perfect guide for beginning birders in this state as it narrows the possibilities of what they are looking at. There are details of when and where the species is found, and basic identification information is written next to the photographs.

As with any limited guide, there will always be disagreements over which species were included and which were left out. Personally, I find the omission of Ruffed Grouse and the inclusion of the Ring-necked Pheasant problematic. Certainly, grouse are still a fairly common, if declining, breeding species in central and western parts of the state. Yet the pheasant is actually no longer even counted as a viable species in those same areas, all sightings being attributed to game farm releases. We just don't find broods of pheasants in these areas anymore. I also found that though "the Berkshires" and "Quabbin" were often cited as general locations to find certain species, there could have been a few more specific interior state locations included in the species accounts. But these are minor criticisms for what overall is a very well produced and nicely written regional guide.

The Field Guide to Birds of Massachusetts is the perfect guide for young and novice birders as well as anyone who likes the out of doors in the state and wants to know more about what birds they see. To have such a guide written by one of the foremost authorities on birds in the state is the frosting on the cake.

OTHER LITERATURE CITED:

Veit, R. R. and W. R. Petersen. 1993. Birds of Massachusetts. Lincoln, MA: Massachusetts Audubon Society.

Bird Sightings: November-December 2017

Sun, 01 Apr 2018 00:00:00 GMT

December was cold. The temperature in Boston averaged 31degrees, four degrees below the monthly average. Total precipitation for December in the form of rain was 2.49 inches, 1.29 inches below the average. The first blast of winter occurred just before the start of the Christmas Bird Count period; on December 9 the first significant snowstorm dumped 6–8 inches with the higher totals south and west of Boston. It was a white Christmas for all of New England. Boston recorded 2.9 inches of snow with more north of the city. High winds buffeted the coast, especially Cape Cod and the Islands, with gusts up to 65 mph. Arctic air moved into our area after the Christmas storm and Boston broke a nearly 100–year old record; the lowest high temperature on December 28 was just 12 degrees, six degrees lower than the previous record of 18 degrees set in 1924.

R. Stymeist

Bygone Birds: Historical Highlights for November-December

Sun, 01 Apr 2018 00:00:00 GMT

20 YEARS AGO

November–December 1997

A Bar-tailed Godwit at Plymouth on December 29–31 remains the only state record for that month. A Roseate Tern at Indian Lake, Worcester, on November 2–3 was the first inland record and the latest for the state, until one (the same bird?) appeared two weeks later on the Vineyard. A Sedge Wren appeared at Eastern Point, Gloucester, on November 28 and stayed long enough to participate in the CBC. Six "Oregon" Juncos were seen throughout the period.

Best sighting: Hermit Warbler, Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard, December 21. This is the third confirmed record for Massachusetts. The bird stayed until the following March and was seen by many.

40 YEARS AGO

November–December 1977

Waterfowl put up some impressive numbers this winter: six "Whistling" (Tundra) Swans on Martha's Vineyard on December 17; 1,200 Canvasback at Assonet on December 11; 184 Redheads on Nantucket on November 26, and a raft of 8,000 Red-breasted Mergansers at Truro. Ten Fulvous Whistling-Ducks arrived at Plum Island on November 6, with one bird staying until November 25. Ten unidentified (but presumably Great) Skuas were present at Georges Bank throughout November. Up to ten Boreal Chickadees were visiting three locations in November. During the same month, there was a mild invasion of Varied Thrushes with five birds scattered throughout the state. A Black-throated Gray Warbler continued in Salem until November 23, and a Harris's Sparrow, found in Belmont on December 12, stayed two weeks.

Best sighting: MacGillivray's Warbler, Dunback Meadow, November 13–30. This represents the first state record.

Front Cover: April 2018

Sun, 01 Apr 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Brown Creeper breeding range in the West is complex, extending in coastal and some interior areas from Alaska south through California and from southwest Canada south through the Rockies to southern Mexico, with outliers through Central America to Nicaragua. Their range extends from western Canada to Newfoundland, excluding the prairie regions. In the eastern United States, they range from the Great Lakes region to the Northeast and south to Virginia. Brown Creepers are resident through most of their range but in most of southern Canada through Newfoundland the population is migratory, wintering throughout most of the United States to northern Florida and northeastern Mexico. In Massachusetts, the Brown Creeper is considered an uncommon resident and uncommon to common migrant. Spring migrants pass through in late April and early May; fall migration occurs mostly in September.

Brown Creepers are probably monogamous and produce a single brood. Both song and calls consist of high-pitched tee notes. The song, given throughout the breeding season by males only, consists of a series of four to nine hissing notes. Little is known of courtship behavior, but chases are common, and wing-fluttering and courtship feeding of the female are known. Pair formation may occur in February or March, before the territory is established.

Brown Creepers breed in coniferous and coniferous-deciduous mature to old-growth forest, preferring closed-canopy forests with dead trees; their winter habitat is more variable. The nest site, located under a loose flap of bark or sometimes a cavity in a dead or dying tree, is chosen by both parents. They occasionally nest in odd places of human origin such as under loose roof shingles or behind a window shutter. The female constructs the nest and provides most of the nest material. The nest, which is connected to the loose bark, consists of a crescent-shaped base of bark and twigs, interlaced with spider web. The cup is attached to the base and is made of fine bark, hair, feathers, and lichen. The female, who develops a brood patch, incubates the clutch of five to six white eggs, spotted with dark colors, for about two weeks until hatching. The male feeds the incubating female. The chicks are altricial, nearly naked and with their eyes closed. Only the female broods for the 15–17 days until fledging. The fledged young stay as a group with the parents or may split into two groups with each group following one adult. The young birds roost together away from their parents. Both parents feed the young for several weeks after fledging, but for how long after that is unknown.

Brown Creepers specialize in foraging for bark-dwelling invertebrates. They have long curved claws, long toes, short legs, and long stiff tails, all adaptations for hopping upwards and around tree trunks. Typically they start foraging at the bottom of a tree and spiral up it to the top, after which they fly to the base of a neighboring tree and repeat the process. They sometimes forage on branches as well. They mostly glean and probe the furrows in the bark with their long, decurved bills. They occasionally hawk flying insects and hover-glean. They take a wide variety of insects and larvae, spiders, pseudoscorpions (an arachnid group), and ants. They occasionally take seeds. In winter Brown Creepers may visit suet feeders and frequently join mixed-species foraging flocks.

Brown Creepers are subject to nest predation by squirrels and other mammalian predators; hawks and owls take adults. The presence of an avian predator is greeted by a freeze response; their cryptic plumage often saves them. In New England, numbers have increased over the decades, probably due to reforestation and the death of mature trees, such as elms from Dutch Elm disease, and damage from gypsy moth infestations. In the West, populations have declined due to deforestation. For example, they have decreased in the Pacific Northwest with the harvesting of old-growth Douglas fir forests. Population trends are difficult to assess, however, because of the cryptic nature of the species. The dependence of Brown Creepers on mature and old-growth forests is worrying because these forests experience heavy pressure from logging and other human interventions. We hope that our only treecreeper will continue to brighten our days in the future.

William E. Davis, Jr.

At a Glance: April 2018

Sun, 01 Apr 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Can you identify the bird in this photograph?

Identification will be discussed in next issue’s AT A GLANCE.

At a Glance: February 2018 Revealed

Sun, 01 Apr 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Having spent countless hours watching hawks in flight at various hawk-watching locations and in the course of regular birding at many different locations, I am constantly impressed by the apparent facility with which many birders routinely identify flying or soaring hawks, often at considerable distances. However I have also had numerous encounters with birders struggling over the identity of a perched raptor, and I include myself in this category! Because many raptors are more often viewed in flight than when perched, this phenomenon may not be surprising, although it does beg the question about the accuracy of certain distant flight identifications.

With this caveat in mind, we fortunately have an outstanding image of a perched bird to work with. A quick assessment of the picture reveals a chunky, large-headed raptor that has a short-tail with two or three conspicuous white bands, as well as a thin white line over and behind the eye. Additionally, the pictured bird has a vertically streaked breast with the streaks merging into largish dark and white blotches along the sides. It also shows several thin streaks on the crissum (undertail coverts).

Given the bird's stocky and neckless appearance, blocky head shape, relatively short tail, and primaries that extend well down onto the tail, the bird clearly is not an accipiter (i.e., Cooper's or Sharp-shinned hawk). Additionally, the presence of streaks on the crissum is uncharacteristic of an accipiter. Adults of both Red-shouldered and Broad-winged hawks have prominent white tail bands, but in Broad-wings the bands are wide, often with only one wide band visible on a perched individual. Immatures of both of these species lack conspicuous white tail bands. The long primary length relative to the tail length of the mystery bird, and its chunky, compact appearance do not suggest Red-shouldered Hawk, and in the website version of the image, it is obvious that the rich, rusty orange found on the underparts of an adult Red-shoulder is absent.

With these features in mind, the pictured bird can only be one of two small falcons—Merlin or the similarly-sized American Kestrel. Though these two species can superficially resemble one another both perched and in flight, kestrels always exhibit two clear, black, facial markings—one resembling an ear patch and the other a sideburn. Kestrels, unlike the pictured falcon, also have a rusty tail without clear white bands. And structurally, kestrels are slimmer and less heavily marked underneath. The mystery raptor is therefore a Merlin (Falco columbarius). Because of the difficulty in distinguishing immatures from adult females, the age of the pictured bird is uncertain, but is most likely an adult female.

Merlins are uncommon to fairly common spring and fall migrants in Massachusetts, mainly along the coast, but also increasingly inland. They are also regular in small numbers in winter, often appearing in urban areas where they have all but replaced the beleaguered American Kestrel these days. Not only have Merlins increased as migrants and in winter, there has been an increasing number of nesting occurrences in Massachusetts. David Larson photographed this Merlin in Taunton, Massachusetts, on December 30, 2017.

Wayne R. Petersen