DEPARTMENT OF MARINE BIOLOGY. 171 



Fifth Annual List of Birds observed on the Florida Keys, by Paul Bartsch. 



Various conditions prevented me from joining the Director in the usual 

 cruise among the Florida Keys in April, and my visit had to be delayed to the 

 last part of the laboratory season. The notes on birds which I have to offer 

 this year were made between July 14 and August 1, and are of interest chiefly 

 on account of the small number of species recorded from all the stations this 

 season. The complete absence of passerine forms at the Tortugas at this time 

 can probably be accounted for by the lack of available fresh-water on these 

 keys. In spite of the small number of forms noted, 35 in all, 3 belonged to 

 species not listed before; namely, the common tern {Sterna hirundo), the black 

 tern (Hydrochelidon nigra surinamensis) , and the semipalmated plover (Aegia- 

 litis semipalmata) . 



It was interesting to find the rather large colony of common terns established 

 on Bush Key this year. The black terns observed on the same key are some- 

 what puzzling, as I scarcely believe that they bred there, and yet if they were 

 autumn migrants why should their presence be confined to this key? 



At dawn on July 14 I took a position on the rear platform of the Oversea 

 Railway and noted the birds as they came to view. The morning was cloudy, 

 with occasional showers, and this may have been partly responsible for the 

 lack of activity displayed among the smaller forms, for our list this year shows 

 a decidedly less number than that obtained in previous years. It is true that 

 the breeding-season was long over for the smaller species, and the molting 

 period following usually sends them into seclusion. I will note the keys in 

 their order from north to south, with the birds seen on each. 



JewfishKey: Turkey buzzard. 



Key Largo: Turkey buzzard, Bahama red-winged blackbird, Louisiana heron. 



Plantation Key: Turkey buzzard, 2 Florida ground doves. 



Quarry Key: Florida ground dove, Bahama red-winged blackbird. 



Upper Matecumbe Key: Bahama red-winged blackbird, Florida red-belUed wood- 

 pecker. 



Lower Matecumbe Key: Willet, turkey buzzard. 



Long Key: Least tern (small flock). Ward's heron, Bahama red-winged blackbird, 

 turkey buzzard, Florida ground dove. 



Grassy Key: Osprey (3 individuals), boat-tailed grackle. 



Fat Deer Key: Boat-tailed grackle, osprey, man-of-war bird. 



Key Vaca: Osprey, Florida crow, boat-tailed grackle. 



Spanish Harbor: Green heron, osprey, willet, Louisiana heron, Florida ground dove, 

 boat-tailed grackle. 



Big Pine Key: Bahama red-winged blackbird, boat-tailed grackle (small flock). 



Ramrod Key: Florida red-bellied woodpecker. 



Summerland Key: Louisiana heron (small flock). 



Cudjoe Key: Louisiana heron (small flock), willet, turkey buzzard. 



Chase's Key: Louisiana heron, green heron. 



Big Coppit Key: Great white heron (2), Bahama red-winged blackbu*d (7), Louisiana 

 heron (small flock). Ward's heron, ruddy turnstone (8). 



Boca Chica Key: Bahama red-winged blackbird, osprey, boat-tailed grackle, turkey 

 buzzard, Louisiana heron. 



Key West: Boat-tailed grackle, man-of-war bird. 



July 15. — In a trip through the upper end of Key West, the following 

 birds were noted: man-of-war bird, laughing gull (immature), turkey buzzard, 

 boat-tailed grackle, gray kingbird, Florida ground dove. Ward's heron, Louisi- 

 ana heron, Bahama red-winged blackbird, mourning dove, great white heron, 

 least tern. 



On the same day Stock Island was visited, and there the following birds were 

 noted: Ward's heron, least tern, gray kingbird, turkey buzzard, black-billed 

 cuckoo. Key West vireo, Florida ground dove, boat-tailed grackle, Florida red- 

 bellied woodpecker, Florida crow, Florida cardinal. 



