Western Birds Journal

Volume 15, No. 1

Published January 1, 1984

Issue description

Volume 15, number 1 of Western Birds, published 1984

Articles

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    Terence R. Wahl, Steven M. Speich (Author)

    SURVEY OF MARINE BIRDS IN PUGET SOUND, HOOD CANAL AND WATERS EAST OF WHIDBEY ISLAND, WASHINGTON, IN SUMMER 1982

    This report presents results of the first complete survey of marine birds of Puget Sound and adjacent waters. Observations of marine birds in the area date back to 1792, when breeding Pigeon Guillemots were found by Menzies (Newcombe 1923). Since that time, there have been observations and studies at localized sites, with results of these appearing in theses and dissertations, ornithological journals, Jewett et al. (1953), and Dawson and Bowles (1909). However, no complete surveys have been conducted.

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    Carroll D. Littlefield, John E. Cornely (Author)

    FALL MIGRATION OF BIRDS AT MALHEUR NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, OREGON

    In recent years, interest in fall wildlife observations has increased at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Harney County, Oregon. Previously, fall visitor use was primarily limited to hunting. An earlier paper (Littlefield and McLaury, Western Birds 4:83–88, 1973) reported the average spring arrival dates for birds. Numerous requests have been received for a similar report for fall migration dates.

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    Heather J. Welker (Author)

    FOOD COLOR PREFERENCE IN THE ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD

    Food color preference in hummingbirds has been of interest since the early 1900s. The suggestion that hummingbirds innately prefer red food sources has been shared by many (Graenicher 1910, Porsch 1931, McCage 1961, Peterson 1961, Dennis 1975). Yet there are those who continue to find color preference insignificant except in association with other factors, such as the position of the vial, flowers in bloom, and perch location (Bene 1941, Wagner 1946, Lyerly et al. 1950, Grant 1966).

    I undertook this study to investigate further the response of the Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna) to variously colored food sources. The objective of this study was to determine if there was a significant color preference.

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    Laurie J. Bryant, L.D. Courtright (Author)

    UNUSUAL BEHAVIOR OF A RED-THROATED LOON

    In the summer of 1978, Courtright observed and photographed a solitary Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata) near the mouth of Ballona Creek, where it enters the Pacific Ocean in Los Angeles County, California. Its remiges were tattered or poorly developed, perhaps due either to some nutritional deficiency or normal molt. A band of dark brown across the lower neck, extending faintly down the breast and belly, indicates that the bird had encountered oil on the water. Possibly related to these factors was the bird’s unusual behavior in coming ashore. It swam rapidly toward the shore on the surface of the water and, without using its wings, leaped forward into the air and alighted on the beach.

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    Jonathan L. Atwood (Author)

    A HIGH ELEVATION OCCURRENCE OF SCRUB JAYS IN THE SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAINS

    The widely distributed Scrub Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens) is primarily limited altitudinally in southern California to elevations below approximately 2300 meters (Pitelka 1951). However, on 26 July 1980, I observed two individuals of this species 0.5 km ESE of the peak of Mount San Gorgonio, San Bernardino County, California, at an elevation of approximately 3620 meters. Vegetation in this area consisted of sparse, wind-stunted Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis); the only other birds in evidence were Clark’s Nutcrackers (Nucifraga columbiana).

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    Ladislav R. Hanka (Author)

    A BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD PARASITIZES NORTHERN ORIOLES

    The Northern Oriole (Icterus galbula) is rarely reported to be parasitized by the Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) (Friedmann 1963, Friedmann et al. 1977). Rothstein (1977) demonstrated that the Northern Oriole rejects cowbird eggs virtually 100% of the time—and often within minutes of laying.

    While examining nests in a small riparian woodlot west of Fort Collins, Colorado, I found two parasitized nests of Northern (Bullock's) Orioles. One contained three oriole eggs and one cowbird egg; the second contained one egg of each species. I found the first nest at approximately 0830 and the second at 0930 on the same day, 23 June 1977. Two other oriole nests were situated in the woodlot, but one was inaccessible and the other contained four young orioles.

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    Range D. Bayer (Author)

    NOTES ON THE FEEDING BEHAVIOR OF GULLS AND CROWS ON CLAMS AND CRABS AT THE YAQUINA ESTUARY, OREGON

    Crows (Grobecker and Pietsch 1978, Zach 1979) and gulls (Tinbergen 1961, Barash et al. 1975, Ingolfsson and Estrella 1978, Kent 1981, Maron 1982, Rockwell 1982) often drop hard-shelled food items to open them. Here, I describe some techniques that gulls and crows used to find and break naturally occurring clams (i.e., clams that were not made available by human clammers) and that gulls used to eat crabs.

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    Kevin L. Ellis (Author)

    BEHAVIOR OF LEKKING SAGE GROUSE IN RESPONSE TO A PERCHED GOLDEN EAGLE

    Other investigators (Patterson 1952, Wiley 1973, Hartzler 1974) have described the anti-predator behavior of lekking Sage Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) in response to an approaching Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos). However, no accounts exist of the behavioral responses of Sage Grouse to a perched Golden Eagle, largely because most Sage Grouse leks are on open sagebrush plains void of trees that might serve as perches (Patterson 1952).

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    Terrell Rich (Author)

    MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD USE OF TREELESS LAVA FLOWS FOR NEST SITES

    The Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides) is a cavity-nesting species that breeds in a variety of open woodland habitats. Breeding habitats include groves of aspen and cottonwood (Populus spp.), pine woods including Pinyon Pine (Pinus edulis), and junipers (Juniperus spp.) (Bent 1949). The breeding territory usually includes a large area of open space where the nest is located and areas of trees or brush that provide cover nearby (Power 1966). Power (1966) concluded that the Mountain Bluebird had highly specialized nesting requirements and that the use of unusual sites was very rare.

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    Salome Ross Demaree (Author)

    BATHING HABITS OF THE COOPER'S HAWK

    I observed the bathing habits of a Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii), assumed from field marks to be a male, in the North Phoenix Mountain Preserve area, Arizona, over the past 4 years from September through March. Daily between 0800 and 1000, the hawk visited a shallow stone water catchment (56 cm x 36 cm x 7.5 cm) in an otherwise dry desert wash. I had an excellent view using a 20-power scope at a distance of about 60 meters.

    Usually, the hawk took several drinks, then stepped into the water and stood there with the feet and legs partially immersed. The time spent standing in the water varied from 15 minutes to 1.5 hours. It would pick up each foot and carefully clean the scales on the tarsi and toes with its mandibles, also giving close attention to the claws. After cleaning, the hawk inspected its feet, including turning them over to examine the undersides.

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    DON ROBERSON (Author)

    IDENTIFICATION QUIZ

    The short, delicate bill, nearly neckless appearance, and webbed feet of this bird identify it as some species of small alcid. A number of small alcids show a dark-and-white pattern during the nonbreeding season, but many of these can be easily eliminated from consideration.

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    RICHARD WEBSTER (Author)

    BOOK REVIEW : Field Guide to the Birds of North America

    Durably bound and well printed, this slightly-larger-than-the-back-pocket field guide represents the collaboration of thirteen artists; four expert consultants (Jon L. Dunn, Eirik A. T. Blom, George E. Watson, and John P. O'Neill); many writers, editors, and researchers; and their many helpful friends, all working under the sponsorship of the National Geographic Society.