The Red-backed Sandpiper 
seldom suffices to teach its lesson of caution, and they are back again the 
next minute to look after their comrades, and to invite repeated slaughter. 
Suckley tells of an army officer of his acquaintance who once tumbled nine¬ 
ty-six birds at a single discharge of his fowling piece. It is, perhaps, need¬ 
less to add that there ar’n’t enough birds to go around at that rate. 
A photographer comes to believe that this species is warier than most 
of its near relatives. Anyway, it was the last one of thirty to fall victim 
to my camera at Santa Barbara. Partly for that reason, and partly 
because Sandpipers are not on dress parade in winter anyhow, the writer 
has to confess a dearth of first-hand information regarding the species, 
and he finds only the most matter-of-fact and, therefore, least informing 
references to it in Californian literature. 
It is only those who have been privileged to follow some of our lesser 
visitors to their northland homes who feel the impact and flavor of their 
distinguishing personalities. Chief among this privileged class is Mr. E. 
W. Nelson, who, writing from St. Michaels in the late Seventies, says of 
these birds: “Soon after they arrive in spring they are engaged in pairing, 
and the male may be seen upon quivering wing flying after the female and 
uttering a musical, trilling note, which falls upon the ear like the mellow 
tinkle of large water-drops falling rapidly into a partly filled vessel. 
Imagine the sounds thus produced by the water run together into a steady 
and rapid trill some five or ten seconds in length, and the note of this 
Sandpiper is represented. It is not loud, but has a rich, full tone difficult 
to describe, but pleasant to hear among the discordant notes of the various 
water-fowl whose hoarse cries arise on all sides. As the lover’s suit 
approaches its end, the handsome suitor becomes exalted, and in his 
moments of excitement he rises fifteen or twenty yards, and hovering on 
tremulous wings over the object of his passion, pours forth a perfect gush 
of music, until he glides back to earth exhausted, but ready to repeat 
the effort a few minutes later.’’ 
Taken near Santa Barbara 
Photo by the Author 
A MIXED COMPANY 
THE BIRDS WITH BLACK BELLIES ARE RED-BACKED SANDPIPERS; THE OTHERS ARE WESTERNS 
1245 
