Western Birds Journal

Volume 7, No. 4

Published October 1, 1976

Issue description

Volume 7, number 4 of Western Birds, published 1976

Articles

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    RICHARD W. STALLCUP (Author)

    PELAGIC BIRDS OF MONTEREY BAY, CALIFORNIA

    Monterey Bay is one of the best and most accessible localities in the world to observe a large variety of seabirds. At any time of year many species of pelagic birds and mammals may be seen. The annual passing of migrants, the inclusive periods of residency of wintering animals and their favored haunts on the bay have now been studied adequately enough that we may generalize them in print.

    In cases where descriptions in popular field guides are incomplete or inaccurate, a piece on identification at sea is included in the following annotated list of selected bird species.

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    ARNOLD SMALL (Author)

    WESTERN BIRD PHOTOGRAPHERS

    Having repeatedly attempted in vain to study and photograph Golden Eagles at their eyries in California, I can well appreciate the time, effort, patience, and technical skill that went into the production of Don Hoechlin’s photographic essay of these marvelous birds. Golden Eagles, like other raptors, have exceptionally keen vision, are wary of man, and are extremely shy at the eyrie. Fortunate indeed for them that this is so; otherwise, their numbers would long ago have been depleted by shooters and nest-robbers.

    Don R. Hoechlin, a medical student, has taken precious time from his academic studies to provide us with an intimate look at the home life of a pair of young Golden Eagles.

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    DON R. HOECHLIN (Author)

    DEVELOPMENT OF GOLDEN EAGLETS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

    The sight of an adult Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) soaring in the afternoon sun gives one a feeling of freedom, but to watch the development of a pair of Golden Eaglets is a rare and thrilling experience.

    The nesting cycle begins in early January when the adult birds commence their spectacular courtship displays and the nest site selection process. In southern California the nest locations are about equally divided between tree and cliff sites. The eagle nest, called an eyrie, is composed of branches and twigs ranging in size from 2.56 to 0.64 cm in diameter. From mid-February to mid-March one to three eggs, but usually two, are deposited in the nest. After an incubation period of 42 to 45 days, the first eaglet hatches. The second eaglet hatches three or four days later. Incubation is shared by both adults, but the majority is done by the female.

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    BRUCE E. WEBB (Author)

    NOTES: A GROOVE-BILLED ANI IN NORTHEASTERN COLORADO

    In flight, the Groove-billed Ani (Crotophaga sulcirostris) does not present an image of long-distance vagrancy capabilities. Yet, from the northern extent of its present breeding range, i.e., the southern Rio Grande Valley of Texas, it has been recorded as “accidental” north to Minnesota, Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma (AOU Check-list, 1957). Farther west, it has wandered to Nevada (Kingery, Am. Birds 29:95, 1975) and recently to California (McCaskie, Am. Birds 29:122, 1975).

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    BRUCE G. ELLIOTT (Author)

    NOTES: BLUE-FOOTED BOOBY IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

    Between mid-September and 18 October 1976 an immature Blue-footed Booby (Sula nebouxii) was present on New Hogan Reservoir, Calaveras County, California. This marks the first recorded inland occurrence of the species in northern California, although there was an earlier report from coastal Pacific Grove, Monterey County, of up to four observed on 16 and 17 October 1971 (DeSante et al., Am. Birds 26:112–118, 1972). Also, with one exception, the New Hogan Reservoir observation represents the northernmost recorded occurrence of the species. The exception is one procured in Puget Sound off Everett, Washington on 23 September 1935 (Larrison, Murrelet 26:45, 1945). All other western United States records are from southern California, western Arizona, and extreme southern Nevada (McCaskie, Calif. Birds 1:117–142, 1970; Monson, Am. Birds 26:100, 1972; McCaskie, Am. Birds 26:119–124, 1972).