Details - Western United States, 1918 : To obtain information on breeding waterfowl and the economic value of bats; Field diaries, 18 May - 26 September 1918

Western United States, 1918 : To obtain information on breeding waterfowl and the economic value of bats; Field diaries, 18 May - 26 September 1918

Title

Western United States, 1918 : To obtain information on breeding waterfowl and the economic value of bats; Field diaries, 18 May - 26 September 1918

Title Variants

Alternative: Western United States, 1918; Field diaries

Related Titles

Contained In: Alexander Wetmore Papers, circa 1848-1979 and undated

Series: SIA RU007006

Series: Smithsonian Field Book Project : an initiative to improve access to field book content that documents natural history

By

Wetmore, Alexander, 1886-1978

Type

Book

Material

Archival material

Publication info

1918

Notes

Materials include a field book and loose notes compiled by Alexander Wetmore, May - November 1918 in the western United States, while working for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Bureau of Biological Survey. He was the vicinity to obtain information on breeding waterfowl and the economic value of bats, for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Bureau of Biological Survey. Entries are chronological and listed by date. Entry styles change through the field book. Initially entries are bird counts listed by common name and quantity, sometimes with attending descriptions or questions; they are interspersed with descriptions of behaviors and appearances of individual male and female birds interacting, sometimes with small sketches. There is a series of descriptions and sketches of immature birds (days old); detailed descriptions of nests; terse descriptions of environments. By early July, entries detail bird sightings, listing times of day, sex, and temperature as well as bird lists. These different types of entries continue to be intermixed through the rest of the text. At August 20th entry, information entered discusses damage to crops in the western United States. Some entries include listing a claimant, location, type of claimed damage, methods used to scare birds away suspected of doing the damage; and possible solutions. Rice crops are mentioned. Information is also entered from the back of the field book. This includes information about film (listing locations), specimens, and supplies and expenses. Sites include locations in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California.Loose sheets include many of the same kinds of entries and information. Also includes notes on Lawrence, Kansas and De Witt, Arkansas from November 1918.