igo Bird - Lore 



I append a brief list of the birds identified. Herring Gulls and Royal 

 Terns are very abundant. A fine specimen of Gannet was captured. Florida 

 Cormorant, common; considered fine for eating. Brown Pelicans, large flocks, 

 seen frequently. Man-of-War bird seen daily. Flamingo, called by natives, 

 "Filyamingo," one brought in. White Ibis, two w^re killed and eaten by the 

 'Conchs.' 



Great White Heron, five were seen at a distance. Ward's Great Blue 

 Heron, one captured alive. Reddish Egret, not uncommon, two were brought 

 in, one in red, one in white plumage. Louisiana Heron, one specimen seen. 

 Little Blue Heron, large flocks in blue and white plumage seen together. 

 Black-crowned Night Heron, one; Yellow-crowned Night Heron, abundant; 

 prized for the table. Limpkin, two; one caught alive, was afterward released. 

 Coots, large flocks seen, feeding some distance from shore, at low tide. 

 Wilson's Snipe, one; Dowitcher, one. Least Sandpiper and Semipalmated 

 Sandpiper, beheved to be with flocks of Killdeer. Ring-necked Plover and 

 Turnstones, feeding daily at low tide off Upper Matecumbe. Black-bellied 

 Plover, one. 



Mourning Dove, a large flock, lived on the Key. Ground Dove, common. 

 Turkey Vultures, abundant. Marsh Hawk, seen frequently; a large pair of 

 Hawks, supposed to be Red-tailed, nesting on Key. Red-shouldered Hawks, 

 several pairs, caUed by natives the "Crying Jake" ; a pair nested near a house. 

 Bald Eagles, a pair and Eaglet on Twin Sister Key. Pigeon Hawk, one was 

 killed by the natives; Sparrow Hawk, abundant. Osprey, often seen flying high 

 overhead. Florida Screech Owl, one ; a large Owl seen, but not identified. Belted 

 Kingfisher, from one to three seen daily. Red-bellied Woodpecker, not un- 

 common. Ruby-throated Hummingbird, seen several times. Kingbird, seen 

 in March. Phoebe, seen often. Crested Flycatcher, seen a few times. Florida 

 Crow, very abundant, especially in March. Red-winged Blackbird (Florida 

 form), seen and heard daily for two months, later a few nesting. Florida 

 Crackle, and Boat-tail Crackle, seen in March. Painted Bunting, feeding 

 daily in winter with Red-winged Blackbirds; two males and three females seen 

 at one time. Tree Swallow, seen in March. 



Black and White Warbler, one seen in March. Parula Warblers, three in 

 different plumage, seen several days in March. Palm Warbler, a fine male 

 seen and heard singing, several days in March, in undergrowth near house, 

 and one seen on the Key with the Eagles. 



Myrtle Warbler, very abundant during the three months. Oven-bird, 

 one seen in the spring. Mockingbird, very abundant; forty-seven seen in a 

 morning walk, singing only a very Httle in early mornings. Catbirds, very 

 abundant in undergrowth, caUing, but not singing. The Florida Cardinal 

 Wren and the House Wren, rarely seen, but frequently heard in deep under- 

 growth. Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher, seen a few times. Robin, apparently lived 

 in interior of the Key. 



