Mar., 1914 
71 
BIRDS OF SITKA AND VICINITY, SOUTHEASTERN ALASKA 
By GEORGE WILLETT 
WITH ONE PHOTO BY E. W. MERRIEL 
D uring the summers of 1912 and 1913, which the writer spent in the 
neighborhood of Sitka, Alaska, in the interests of the Bureau of Biological 
Survey, much time was devoted to the general ornithology of this most 
interesting section. All the writer’s personal notes on this district were made 
betw'een July 14 and September 2, 1912, and between July 20 and October 3, 
1913- 
Some of this time rvas spent in the immediate vicinity of Sitka, and fre- 
ipient visits were made to Kruzof, St. Lazaria and Biorka islands, as well as 10 
many of the .smaller islands in Sitka Sound. I also traversed rather thoroughly 
several of the more important ranges on Baranof Island, and three times climbed 
Alt. Edgecumbe, an extinct volcano and the highest peak on Kruzof Island. 
Penally, through the courtesy of U. S. Forest Ranger George Peterson, I made 
a trip on the Forest Service launch through Peril Straits to Hooniah Sound and 
Tenakee Inlet, Chichagof Island, down the east side of Baranof Island as 
far as Patterson Bay, and across Chatham Straits to the western shores of Kuiu 
and Admiralty islands. Landings were made many times during this trip and I 
w'as enabled to make investigations of the bird-life in these localities. 
My trips around Sitka Sound were gener3,lly made in a row boat which was 
furnished me through the kindness of Mr. Arthur Shoup, Representative to the 
Territorial Legislature. The trips into the mountains were made on foot and my 
camp outfit, guns, ammunition, etc., were carried on my back. 
On some occasions I travelled alone, but 1 was several times accompanied by 
Mr. E. W. Merrill of Sitka, by Mr. Robert Bardon of Grant's Pass, Oregon, and 
by Forest Ranger Peterson. To each of these three gentlemen I am indebted for 
much assistance rendered and information given. Air. Alenill, who is a fellow 
member of tbe Cooper Club, has resided in Sitka for over ten years, during which 
time he has taken a number of valuable specimens, and made many interesting- 
notes on the birds of the region. He very kindly turned over to me all his notes, 
and the information obtained therefrom has added materially to this paper. I 
also received many courtesies and much valuable information from Deputy Unit- 
ed States Marshals John Goodell and James Brightman, and am indebted to Mr. 
A. J. Wilkus, formerly in charge of the government experimental station at Sitka, 
for several specimens of raptorial birds secured by him in the neighborhood of his 
chicken yard. 
For assistance in ascertaining the identity of specimens, obtaining previously 
published literature, and in looking up old records, I am greatly obligated to 
Air. Joseph Grinnell, of the University of California Museum of Vertebrate 
Zoology, Mr. H. S. Swarth, of the Los Angeles County Aluseum of Flistory, 
Science, and Art, Prof. Wells W. Cooke, of the United States Biological Survey, 
and Air. W. Lee Chambers of Eagle Rock, California. 
The territory herein referred to as Sitka and vicinity comprises Baranof, 
Kruzof and Chichagof islands wdth their outlying islets and contiguous waters. 
As is w^ell known, this district is one of excessive moisture and luxuriant vegeta- 
tion. On all of the islands, large and small, dense forests of spruce, hemlock 
and cedar extend down to the very edge of the water. Along the larger streams 
alders and willows are plentiful, and in many localities a dense undergrowth of 
