Part 2

Holt's published observations cannot be positively refuted, for we cannot be sure that a colony of falcinellus did not exist in Cameron Parish in 1932, nor that the portion of the rookery under his observation did not consist of a segregated population of that species. However, ten years of field observations by other ornithologists have failed to disclose the species which Holt considered a common nesting bird in an area where we now know that only the White-faced Glossy Ibis occurs. The fact that Holt specifically stated that he failed to find the white-faced bird at any time in his stay in Cameron Parish is difficult to explain, but this much is certain--the present known status of falcinellus in Louisiana is that of only a rare and casual visitor.

#Branta canadensis hutchinsii# (Richardson), Hutchins Goose

Oberholser (op. cit., 89) cited only one Louisiana record for this goose. The bird in question was shot but apparently not preserved. Consequently, the status of the race on the Louisiana list was subject to question. Recently, however, two typical specimens of hutchinsii were obtained in the state, one by Edouard Morgan, near Lake Catherine, on November 7, 1942, and the other by Herman Deutsch, four miles above the mouth of the Mermentau River, on November 2, 1944. The former is displayed in the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Exhibit in the Louisiana State Museum, and the latter is now in the Louisiana State University Museum of Zooelogy.

#Oxyura dominica# (Linnaeus), Masked Duck

A mounted specimen of this species was found by T. D. Burleigh and myself in a sporting goods store in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Through the kindness of Mr. Jack Gunn, owner, it was donated to the Louisiana State University Museum Collection. The bird was shot approximately 25 miles southeast of Lake Charles at Sweet Lake, Cameron Parish, on December 23, 1933, by R. T. Newton. This is the first recorded occurrence of the species in Louisiana, as well as one of the very few instances of its appearance anywhere in the United States.

#Buteo lineatus texanus# Bishop, Texas Red-shouldered Hawk

Although this race has been recorded previously only from Texas and northeastern Mexico, it appears to be of regular occurrence in southern Louisiana in the fall and winter. The six specimens in the Louisiana State University Collection, identified by Herbert Friedmann as texanus, are as follows: Westover, November 25, 1937; Baton Rouge, October 20, 1936, November 1, 1938, and September 3, 1940; University, November 14, 1942; Hoo-shoo-too, October 12, 1941 (Lowery, Tiebout, and Wallace). Another specimen, taken at Baton Rouge on September 17, 1940 (Ray), was acquired by Louis B. Bishop, who identified it as texanus.

#Numenius americanus americanus# Bechstein, Long-billed Curlew

#Numenius americanus parvus# Bishop, Northern Long-billed Curlew

Thirteen specimens of this species in the Louisiana State University Museum have been identified subspecifically (in part by J. Van Tyne) as follows: N. a. americanus--4 [Female], Cameron, November 21 and 22, 1940, and December 5, 1942. N. a. parvus--4 , 1 [Female], Cameron, November 21 and 23, 1940, and April 11 and October 31, 1942; 1 [Female], East Timbalier Island, August 18, 1940. Three are intermediate in size and therefore not identifiable with certainty. Contrary to published accounts, the Long-billed Curlew is a fairly common migrant in certain parts of southern Louisiana. About seventy-five were counted on the beach near Cameron on November 1, 1941, and twenty-five were noted at the same place on December 6, 1942. Almost invariably a few are present there during every month of the year.

#Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus# (Cassin), Western Snowy Plover

#Charadrius alexandrinus tenuirostris# (Lawrence), Cuban Snowy Plover

Oberholser (op. cit., 216-217) listed the Cuban Snowy Plover as a rare transient in Louisiana, and cited only four definite records based on three specimens. Our recent studies, however, have yielded twelve additional specimens and a number of sight records, all of which indicate that the species is a regular and sometimes common migrant in spring and fall. Eleven specimens in the series are identifiable with certainty as examples of nivosus and therefore constitute an addition to the state list. They were taken at East Timbalier Island on November 15 and 16, 1940 (Burleigh, Lowery, and Ray), at Grand Isle on March 27, 1943 (Burleigh), and near Cameron on November 20 and 21, 1941, April 3 and October 17, 1942, and September 3, 1944 (Burdick, Howell, and Lowery). On April 29, 1945, Tucker saw twenty on the beach near Cameron, but he did not obtain a specimen. A single adult male in our series, taken on East Timbalier Island, on November 15, 1940 (Ray), is referable to tenuirostris.

#Charadrius hiaticula semipalmatus# Bonaparte, Semipalmated Plover

Oberholser (op. cit., 218) made special mention of the absence of definite winter records for this species, but, in recent years, it has been noted on numerous occasions in Louisiana in that season. For example, ten were seen at Cameron on December 13, 1940, and the same number was noted there on January 22 and 23, 1941 (Lowery, et al.). A specimen was shot at Cameron on December 5, 1942 (Lowery).

#Charadrius wilsonia wilsonia# Ord, Wilson Plover

Oberholser's single winter record for this species (op. cit., 220) has now been supplemented by two others--fifteen birds seen and three collected at Cameron on January 22, 1941 (Burleigh, Wallace, and Ray); one taken at the same place on December 5, 1942 (Burdick).

#Pluvialis dominica dominica# (Mueller), American Golden Plover

The presence of the Golden Plover on the northern Gulf coast in winter already has been reported by Burleigh ("Bird Life of the Gulf Coast Region of Mississippi," Occas. Papers Mus. Zooel. La. State Univ., 20, 1944: 367), but since there are no published instances of its occurrence in Louisiana at that season, the following four specimens are noteworthy: two collected near Creole by Lowery and Ray on November 21, 1940; two others shot at the same place by Burdick and Tucker on December 6, 1942; and one seen, but not taken, near Cameron on November 22, 1941 (Lowery, et al.).

#Erolia bairdii# (Coues), Baird Sandpiper

Since there is only one previous definite record of the occurrence of this species in the state, the following records are significant. A male was obtained by Burdick at University, 3 miles south, on October 25, 1942. I saw three at the same place on October 29 and shot a male there on November 9. The only spring record is that of a bird seen by me at University, 1 mile south, on May 16, 1945.

#Steganopus tricolor# Vieillot, Wilson Phalarope

Apparently the first definite record of this species in the state is that of an adult female, in breeding plumage, shot by E. A. McIlhenny at Avery Island, Louisiana, on May 10, 1939, and later sent to the Louisiana State University Museum of Zooelogy. A second specimen, a male in winter plumage, was taken by Burdick 5 miles south of the University on September 12, 1943.

#Limosa fedoa# (Linnaeus), Marbled Godwit

This species was listed by Oberholser (op. cit., 271) as a very rare winter resident along the Gulf coast region of southern Louisiana and he cited only two records of occurrence in the state. The following additional records should clarify its present-day status. In 1940 two were seen on East Timbalier Island on August 19, eight on November 15, and seventy-five on both November 16 and 17. Three were seen near Cameron on November 21, 1941. In 1942, two were seen near Cameron on April 4, five on April 5, three on April 11, two on April 22, and one on April 23. Another was noted near Cameron on October 7, 1943 (Lowery, et al.). A small series of specimens was taken from the birds mentioned above. In connection with this species, it may be of interest to note that the Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica) has not been observed in Louisiana by me or my associates.

#Geococcyx californianus# (Lesson), Road-runner

The Road-runner inhabits the northwestern part of the state where it has been reported for many years by local residents. However, since confirmation of its occurrence was lacking, previous publications on the birds of the state have not listed, it. The first definite record is that of a bird killed near Shreveport, on May 1, 1938, by an unspecified collector. Another was shot four miles north of Keatchie, De Soto Parish, on July 9, 1943, by Delmer B. Johnson, at that time field biologist with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Both specimens are in the Louisiana State University Museum. Johnson states that he has seen the species on a number of occasions, specific records being in April and May, 1943, twelve miles east of Mansfield, and two miles east of Logansport. Various reports of nests have been received, but as yet no completely satisfactory breeding record for the state has been obtained.

#Columbigallina passerina pallescens# (Baird), Mexican Ground Dove