Nature Notes From Crater Lake
Volume 12, October 1946
Some Miscellaneous
Ornithological Notes
By Dr. D. S. Farner, Ranger-Naturalist
These notes have been selected from my field notes for the summers of
1940 and 1946. Only those which made a pertinent or interesting
contribution to our knowledge of the birds of Crater Lake National Park
have been included.
Erismatura jamaicensis rubida (Wilson) : Ruddy Duck
A pair observed about one half mile from Cloud Cap on the surface of
Crater Lake, July 4, 1940. This is apparently a new record for the park.
Accipiter velox velox (Wilson): Sharp-shinned Hawk
Two seen in flight near Red Blanket Creek near the south boundary of
Crater Lake National Park, August 28, 1946.
Accipiter cooperi (Bonaparte): Cooper's Hawk
One observed near the upper end of White Horse Creek Canyon, August 9,
1946.
Buteo regalis (Gray): Ferruginous Rough-leg
One seen in flight near Discovery Point, August 2, 1946.
Aquila chrysaetos canadensis (L.): Golden Eagle
Single birds observed between Wizard Island and the south rim on July
29, 1946 and August 3, 1946.
Circus cyaneus hudsonius (L.): Marsh Hawk
One seen in flight along south rim, July 19, 1946. This bird was in
brown plumage.
Falco peregrinus anatum (Bonaparte): Duck Hawk
One seen in flight near Red Cone, July 30, 1946. One seen in flight near
Discovery Point, August 9, 1946.
Charadrius vociferus vociferus (L.): Killdeer
One observed at the boat landing on the south shore of the lake, July
13, 1940.
Larus californicus Lawrence: California Gull
Seen almost daily in numbers from one to ten on the surface, or flying
above the surface of Crater Lake, July 18, 1946 to September 1, 1946.
Phalacrocorax auritus albociliatus Ridgway: Farallon Cormorant
Conspicuous by their complete absence from the Phantom Ship during the
1946 summer.
Megaceryle alcyon caurina (Grinnel): Western Belted Kingfisher
One observed on Wizard Island, August 4, 1940. One observed on the
Phantom Ship, August 17, 1940.
Asyndesmus lewis Gray: Lewis's Woodpecker
About three hundred seen between the Watchman and Cleetwood Cove, August
31, 1940. These birds were feeding and not in actual migration. I
observed none in 1946.
Dryobates pubescens ssp.: Downy Woodpecker
Two observed near Bear Bluff, August 13, 1946. Not previously recorded
from the park. Specimens are needed for further study.
Picoides tridactylus fasciatus Baird: Alaska Three-toed
Woodpecker
One observed and collected near Red Cone Spring, August 14, 1946.
Nuttallornis mesoleucus (Lichtenstein): Olive-sided Flycatcher
Common throughout the park during the summer of 1946. A pair feeding at
least three young out of the nest observed near Bear Bluff, August 13,
1946.
Tachycineta thalassina lepida Mearns: Violet-green Swallow
About 15 seen in the open area around the headwaters of the east fork of
Munson Creek, July 23, 1946.
Parus gambeli abbreviatus (Grinnell): Short-tailed Chickadee
A pair with six young out of the nest seen near Park Headquarters, July
13, 1940.
Sitta carolinensia aculeata Cassin: Slender-billed Nuthatch
Single birds observed along the south rim, August 9, 19, 26, 1946.
Cinclus mexicanus unicolor Bonaparte: Dipper
One observed at base of Chaski Slide, July 11, 1940. One observed near
boat landing on south shore of Crater Lake, August 18, 1946. It should
be remembered that the littoral fauna of Crater Lake is essentially that
of a mountain stream and that it is therefore not surprising to find
dippers in this situation.
Salpinctes obsoletus obsoletus (Say): Rock Wren
An adult and three young seen near the boat landing on the south shore
of Crater Lake, August 2, 1940.
Sialia mexican occidentalis Townsend: Western Bluebird
Three observed near Red Blanket Spring, August 14, 1946. This new record
for the park needs to be confirmed by collected specimens.
Spinus pinus pinus (Wilson): Northern Pine Siskin
A juvenile bird following an adult and seeking food from it seen along
south rim, August 26, 1946.
Passerella iliaca ssp.: Fox Sparrow
Three seen on Red Blanket Creek motorway about 2.5 miles from the south
boundary. One was carrying food in its bill indicating that it was
possibly a breeding bird feeding young. One collected, July 8, 1946.
Melospiza melodia ssp.: Song Sparrow
One seen in Munson Meadows in areas where lincolni was abundant,
July 20, 1946. This needs to be verified by collected specimens to
establish it as a new park record.
- o -
"Nature is the Art of God"
- o -