The Western Willet 



Distribution in California. — Fairly common migrant both coastwise and in- 

 teriorly. Sparingly resident in summer, chiefly in the northeastern plateau district, 

 and in winter, especially in the San Diegan district. Stragglers appear along the coast 

 throughout the year. 



Authorities. — Gambel {Symphemia semipalmata), Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 

 ser. 2, i., 1849, p. 223 (Calif.) ; Bowles and Howell, Condor, vol. xiv., 1912, p. 9 (migr. 

 dates at Santa Barbara); Van Denburgh, Condor, vol. xxi., 1919, p. 39 (Lassen Co., 

 breeding; desc. habits, nest and eggs). 



A HALF CENTURY of gunfire, although moderated of late, has 

 made the Willet a suspicious and a wary bird. Seen in company with 

 Godwits and Jack Curlews on some lonesome stretch of sea beach, it is 

 usually the Willet who gives the first alarm. It is by this, in part, that 

 one may recognize him, for to eyes and at rest he is a bit of a nondescript, — 

 a dull, gray bird, only slightly smaller than Curlew or Godwit, and with a 

 straightened beak, not quite so long. The sight is likely to be a rare one, 

 and as the bird edges away murmuring nondescript warnings to his 

 mismated fellows, the student reviews hastily his own repertory of Shore- 

 birds — Tattler, Plover, Curlew, Knot, or what-not. But when the 

 nondescript takes sudden wing, the secret is out. Only the Willet boasts 

 that striking black-and-white wing pattern, which has been so cleverly 

 concealed under a thatch of gray, for it is only the distal and under 

 portions of the wing which are involved. There is an outburst, also, of 

 discordant melody, for other birds from further down the line, unnoticed 

 before, join this bolting delegate and fill the air with fretful cries, craac'kuh 

 or cherah. Given as the ordinary call note, or note of apprisal, it sounds 

 to me like kleerk, and is repeated rapidly in threes during flight. It must 

 be this note which successive observers have obediently reported as 

 "pill will willet." There is no accounting for tastes — or ears; but I have 

 besought these passing birds a hundred times to say willet, just once, in 

 order to justify this hoary tradition; but they have refused. 



Upon alighting, at a good distance, the Willets first haul in sail, 

 namely, fold their wings with that momentary deliberation which is so 

 dear to the lovers of shore-bird life, and then they babble notes of con- 

 gratulation and reassurance — ko leek and kay ak and ko. Willets 

 frequent the beaches at certain turns of the tide, but they glean most of 

 their living on the mud flats, probing in the soft ooze of salty or brackish 

 lagoons. At such times they are very sociable and if no birds of their 

 own sort offer, they will take up with Helvetian Plovers or Long-billed 

 Dowitchers, Peeps even. I secured the portrait shown on page 1274 on 

 the 12th of August, 1913. The occasion was a challenge, for I knew the 

 amenability of Dowitchers, so I promptly shucked off shoes and socks and 

 waded in. Thanks to the Dowitchers, who had no notion of deserting 



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