Vol. 28 No. 1 (1997)

The Timberline Sparrow was originally described as a full species, Spizella taverneri, by Swarth and Brooks (1925), who distinguished it from Brewer’s Sparrow (Spizella breweri) by its darker coloration, heavier streaking, and larger average size, but with a smaller, slenderer, darker bill.

The extent of corrugation on the bill has proven to be a useful method in determining the age of hummingbirds (Ortiz-Crespo 1972; Stiles 1972; Baltosser 1987; Russell 1996). Nestlings and post-fledging juveniles have soft bills with deep corrugation covering 50% or more of the bill, whereas adults have harder bills with little or no corrugation.

The community of Ketchikan is located on Revillagigedo Island, near the southern terminus of the Alexander Archipelago, just north of Dixon Entrance and the adjacent open ocean, in southeastern Alaska (Figure 1). This portion of Alaska is characterized by steep, densely forested islands and high annual rainfall, with small communities isolated by water and a limited road system.

As autumn weekend crowds of birders at Point Reyes, California attest, the state regularly receives thousands of wayward migrating birds each year, representing over a hundred species.The vast majority of these birds are Neotropical migrant passerines whose breeding ranges are in Canada and the eastern United States, and whose primary migration route lies east of the Rocky Mountains. While the trees at the lighthouse may be dotted with Blackpoll Warblers, the rare appearance of a Golden-winged Warbler or a Red-eyed Vireo is sure to draw much greater attention.

As another year ends, we can take stock of some of the accomplishments and challenges of our organization.