Part 14

=Long-billed Curlew=: Numenius americanus americanus Bechstein.--This is an uncommon summer resident in western Kansas, in prairie grassland. Breeding records are from Stanton and Morton counties.

Breeding schedule.--Eggs are laid at least in May and June.

Number of eggs.--Clutch-size is 4 eggs.

Eggs are laid in slight depressions in the ground in grassy cover.

=Upland Plover=: Bartramia longicauda (Bechstein).--This is a locally common summer resident, most conspicuously in the Flint Hills, in grassland. Breeding records are from Trego, Hamilton, Finney, Morton, Meade, Marion, Chase, Kearny, Butler, Cowley, Douglas, Johnson, Wabaunsee, Franklin, Anderson, and Coffey counties. Dates of first arrival in spring span the period April 2 to May 5 (the median is April 19), and dates last seen in autumn are from September 3 to October 6 (the median is September 13).

Breeding schedule.--Sixteen records of breeding span the period April 21 to June 10; the modal date for egg-laying is May 5.

Number of eggs.--Usually 4 eggs are laid.

Eggs are placed on vegetation on the ground surface, in pasture, field stubble, or gravel, frequently under heavy plant cover.

=Spotted Sandpiper=: Actitis macularia (Linnaeus).--This summer resident is locally common on wet ground and along streams. Dates of arrival in spring are from March 29 to April 30 (the median is April 24), and dates of last observation in autumn span the period September 2 to October 10 (the median is September 18).

Breeding schedule.--Egg records are all from the northeastern sector, and all are for May.

Number of eggs.--Usually 4 eggs are laid.

Nests are of plant fibers in depressions in dry ground on gravel banks, pond or stream borders, or in pastureland.

=American Avocet=: Recurvirostra americana Gmelin.--This is a local summer resident in marshes in central and western Kansas. There are breeding records from Finney, Barton, and Stafford counties. Extreme dates within which avocets have been recorded are April 2 to November 21.

Breeding schedule.--Forty-one records of breeding span the period May 11 to June 20 (26 records shown in Fig. 3); the modal date for laying is June 5.

Number of eggs.--Usually 4 eggs are laid.

Nests are placed on the surface of the ground, near water.

=Wilson Phalarope=: Steganopus tricolor Vieillot.--This is a local summer resident in marshes in central and western Kansas, but breeding records are available only from Barton County. The earliest date of occurrence is April 7 and the latest is October 14.

Breeding schedule.--Ten records indicate eggs are laid in May and June.

Number of eggs.--Three or 4 eggs are laid.

Nests are of plant stems in slight depressions in the ground.

=Forster Tern=: Sterna forsteri Nuttall.--This is a local summer resident in central Kansas, in marshes. There are breeding records only from Cheyenne Bottoms, Barton County (Zuvanich, 1963:1). First dates of arrival in spring span the period April 9 to 29 (the median is April 22), and apparent departure south in autumn occurs from August 1 to November 1 (the median is September 3).

Breeding schedule.--Twenty-three records of nesting are from late May to mid-June; all records are for the year 1962.

Number of eggs.--Usually 4 eggs are laid.

Nests are frequently floating platforms of vegetation (algae, cattail, and the like) in shallow water; old nests of Pied-billed Grebes are sometimes used as bases, and occasionally the birds nest on the ground.

=Least Tern=: Sterna albifrons athalassos Burleigh and Lowery.--This tern is a local summer resident in marshes and along streams in central and western Kansas. There are breeding records from Hamilton, Meade, and Stafford counties. First dates of arrival in spring are from May 14 to 30 (the median is May 28), and last dates of occurrence in autumn are from August 9 to September 7 (the median is August 25).

Breeding schedule.--Twenty-one records of egg-laying are from May 21 to June 30 (Fig. 4); the modal date for laying is June 5.

Number of eggs.--Two, 3 or 4 eggs are laid.

Eggs are laid on the bare ground, usually a sandy surface, near water.