Notes and Comments
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restlessness and become more noisy than during the winter months. The wild geese lead the northward migration in March. From that time on it is one continuous stream of migration until well along into May.
It has actually never been definitely determined just what species of the shore birds nest in southern China. In 1931 we definitely located the Eastern Oystercatcher nesting on the small islands, again this year we have located numerous nests. As late as May 12th., there were both Golden Plover and Turnstone still to be found on Haitang Island. The Greenshank too, was to be seen in considerable numbers. There were many others of the shorebirds not supposed to nest in southern China. Eastern Pratincole began nesting about May 10th. Painted Snipe nest upon the grassy lowlands of Haitang Island about the same time.
We had long heard of fishermen taking eggs by the basketfull from some of the outlying islands. It has long been our desire to check up on this thing in order to ascertain just what species nest in such numbers.
Of course it was evident terns were likely the greatest sufferers at the hands of these professional poachers upon their nesting grounds. May 9th., was a little early for terns to be nesting, but this seemed the only opportunity to visit these islands, so we planned to spend a day with notebook and fieldglasses upon what seemed to be a promising island. La Touche had reported years ago of one egg of what seemed to him to be of the Bridled Tern that was brought to him from one of the islands. We desired to make a survey in person of promising nesting grounds.
The islands visited lay six miles or so from shore east of Haitang and in the general region of the Turnabout Lighthouse. Not until we came within a couple of miles of the islands did we see any birds. As we approached nearer the island both Bridled and Black-naped Terns began to be seen in ever increasing numbers. On the outer island of the group we found terns of the two mentioned species in vast numbers. A survey of the island disclosed the following species. As this island was small we feel confident we noted every bird found upon it. Besides the two species of terns mentioned which were very abundant we noted the following species in the order listed. Eastern Reef Heron (Demiegretta sacra) were first noticed flying from one island to the other. There were four pair of these birds.
At least twenty pair of Yellow-nib Duck (Anas poecilorhyncha zonorhyncha) were on the island. One nest of this species was located. It was a bit too early to catch these duck busy in their domestic affairs. Red-bellied Rock Thrush (Monticola p. philippensis) were seen nesting in crevices. There were three pairs of this thrush. One Malay House Swift seemed to be greatly disturbed at our presence; also one Eastern House Swallow swerved about feeding with little concern. There was a single male White-faced Wagtail which at this season of the year very likely had a mate tucked away in some crack or cranny. One pair of Spotted Sandpiper (Tringa hypoleucos) seemed very much at home. The surprise of the day was to find both the Crested Myna (Aethiopsar c. cristatellus) and the Formosan Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus taivanensis) present in considerable numbers and evidently nesting in perfect contentment on this bleak island far from the haunts of man.
July 1935.
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