Interesting to see they refer to "Southern" Robin - was this a common distinction made during the '40's?  As opposed to a "Northern?"  What else is known about this, whether it was a local reference, or widespread, etc.?
Ross GeredienEdgewater, MD

--- On Fri, 2/11/11, Phil Davis <> wrote:

From: Phil Davis <>
Subject: [MDOSPREY] C&O Canal Towpath Checklist from April 1946, with an esteemed  leader
To: 
Date: Friday, February 11, 2011, 4:16 AM

MD Osprey:

Some of you may know that I canvassing historical PWRC records that were retrieved from deep storage last year, primarily to locate detailed write-ups of any MD/DC Records Committee "reviewable" sightings. In the process of reviewing these records, however, I have run across some very interesting material, such as the following ...

The checklist, below, is from an April 1946 C&O Towpath bird walk, led by none other than Roger Tory Peterson. Note that there were 70 people in tow (no pun intended, well, ... maybe so). I also found another RTP bird walk checklist from Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens on 28 May 1944 ("last walk of the season"), with an attendance of ... are you ready? ... 165 people!!! Yikes!

Enjoy ...

================================================================

A Check List of Birds Regularly Seen in the National Capital Parks, Washington, DC

C&O Canal Towpath
April 21, 1946 (Easter)
Sycamore Island & upstream to Cabin John Run
Clear, calm, warm
Number of species: 43
Number of people: 70

Leaders:
        Roger Tory Peterson, assisted by:
                Donald Edward McHenry
                Dr. E.G. Davis
                R. Barth

This list is arranged alphabetically for the convenience of amateur bird students. Resident birds are indicated in CAPITAL LETTERS. Birds nesting in the vicinity are shown by a number after the name which indicates the month of the beginning of the nesting season. Ex. Indigo Bunting-5 means that this bird starts nesting in May.

[PCD: This pre-printed, folded checklist includes columns for "Date Seen" as well as 13 distributional columns that show whether this species is present during the following:

        WINTER
        SPRING
                March
                April
                May
        SUMMER
                June
                July
        AUTUMN
                Aug 1-15
                Aug 15-Sep 30
                Oct
                Nov]

BIRDS: [Note: numbers of birds seen was not indicated. PCD]

BLUEBIRD-4
CARDINAL-4
CHICKADEE, CAROLINA-4
Cowbird-5
CROW, COMMON-4
DOVE, MOURNING-4
Duck, Blue-winged Teal
Duck, Lesser Scaup
Duck, Wood-4
EAGLE, BALD-2
Finch, Purple
FLICKER-5
Gnatcatcher, Blue-gray-5
GOLDFINCH-7
GRACKLE, PURPLE-4
HAWK, RED-SHOULDERED-4
JAY, BLUE-4
MOCKINGBIRD-4
NUTHATCH, WHITE-BREASTED-4
Osprey-4
Phoebe-4
Redstart, American-5
Robin, Southern-4
SPARROW, HOUSE-3
SPARROW, SONG-4
Sparrow, White-throated
STARLING-4
Swallow, Tree
Swift, Chimney-6
THRASHER, BROWN-5
TITMOUSE, TUFTED-4
TOWHEE (CHEWINK)-5
Vulture, Black-4
VULTURE, TURKEY-4
Warbler, Black and White-5
Warbler, Myrtle
Warbler, Parula-5
Waterthrush, Louisiana-5
WOODPECKER, DOWNY-5
WOODPECKER, RED-BELLIED-4
Wren, House-5
Wren, Winter
Yellowthroat, Maryland-5



===================================================
Phil Davis, Secretary
MD/DC Records Committee
2549 Vale Court
Davidsonville, Maryland  21035     USA
301-261-0184
mailto:[log in to unmask]

MD/DCRC Web site:  http://www.MDBirds.org/mddcrc/rcindex.html
===================================================