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"Formerly an abundant fall transient across the Gulf of Maine and irregularly common to abundant along the coast and rare inland; one spring record" (Palmer 1949:208). Around Calais* and the immediate coast: "Fall and spring. Rare" (Boardman 1862:129).

DATES: "The flight usually passed from about August 27 to September 11, with a few birds coming later." And, "arrives in mid-August...." 1886*, MAY*, AUGUST* 25 (flight), 27-28 (flight), 28, 1929, 31*, SEPTEMBER 3, 9,11,23*, 27, OCTOBER (Palmer 1949).

"Flight years. 'Great numbers of curlews migrate along the coast of Maine far out at sea, and only appear here upon the land when heavy weather causes them to pause in their flight and come to the shores'.... In 1877, there was a flight of thousands on August 27 and 28 at North Yarmouth, Cumberland County...ln 1878, after a southeast wind and heavy rain all day on August 25, the weather cleared in the evening and a great flight came to Scarborough, Pillsbury and 1. Crocker shooting 31 birds with four shots, but when many gunners went out the next day, the flight had passed...ln 1879, during a September gale, 'thousands' alighted about a pond in South Portland...and in 1878 or 1879, L.C. Daniels and J. Martin found a remarkable flight or abundance' on a fall day, at New Gloucester and Falmouth, Cumberland County..." (Palmer 1949:209). It is interesting that these were not "big flight" years in Massachusettes (see below).

More details concerning the 1877 flight appeared in a letter by N.C. Brown: "'On the 27th day of August, word was brought to one of our sportsmen that many large plover were flying about a field in North Yarmouth, which is a small town situated N.E. of Portland and several miles from the sea. The gentleman took his gun and repaired to the field, in expectation of getting some Upland Plover shooting. To his surprise, however, he found a large flock of Esquimaux Curlew, and after bagging fourteen birds he returned to town and notified five of his friends. On the morning of August 28th upon reaching their ground, an undulating stretch of "grassland" about a mile and a half long and three-quarters of a mile wide, they discovered the curlew feeding in a patch of clover, their numbers swelled by fresh arrivals since the day before, and now aggregating several hundred individuals. A plan of operation was devised and in the process of execution when another immense flock of birds appeared in the N.E., passed over the gunners' heads and with slight hesitation alighted in the grass not many rods distant. And this was but the vanguard. All day great masses of birds kept coming from the N.E., circled over the fields and only withdrew after they had been repeatedly shot at. One of my friends says that a flock of fully a thousand individuals passed over him at one time as he lay in the grass. I have spoken of the birds as curlew, and nine tenths of them were Esquimaux Curlew (N. borealis)....The ground was revisited on the following day but only a few birds were found'" (Palmer 1949:209-210).

Hapgood also describes the 1878 flight: "Mr. S., afterward, 'His Honor, the Mayor' of Portland, writes October, 1878: 'There was the most immense flight of golden plover and Esquimaux curlew on a Sunday, the last of August [25th], 1 ever knew on the coast, during a sudden storm, but a northwester following closely, they all disappeared' " Hapgood 1887:23).

Palmer also presented an interesting anecdote about the last record for the state: "The locality was Schoodic Point and the date August 28, 1929. A competent student of birds who must remain anonymous, the informant dined with others on these small curlews. On becoming curious as to the identity of the birds, he examined the wings, which had been tossed out with the garbage, and established that at least some of the wings were from Eskimo Curlews. Considering the illegality of taking any species of curlews at that time, it is easily understandable why the evidence was destroyed" (Palmer 1949:209).

Concerning their companions, Brown wrote: " 'Arrives with the Golden Plover, with which it usually associates'" (Palmer 1949:208).

Maine curlews were also for sale: "About 1880, the Parker House and other Boston hotels paid Cumberland County gunners a dollar per bird for Eskimo Curlews" (Palmer 1949:210).

Single specimens reported by Knight (1910:79) and Forbush (1916:430) as taken at Hog Island, Hancock Co., on September 2 and 14, 1909, were later identified as Whimbrels (Palmer 1949:210).

OTHER LOCALITIES: Bangor*, Cranberry Island*, Green Islands, Lincoln Co., Oxford Co., Pine Point*, Piscataquis Co., Rockland* (Aldrich 1977; Hahn 1963; Palmer 1949; Ridgway 1919).

"Formerly a common autumn migrant on the coast, accidental in spring. Now very rare" (Howe and Allen 1901:35). "Formerly periodically abundant fall migrant coastwise...now nearly or quite extinct....July 15 to October 2; accidental in spring" (Forbush 1925:458). "Now practically extinct. Formerly very rare in spring and irregular in fall..." (Griscom and Snyder 1955:95). Nantucket: "Formerly an irregular fall migrant, occasionally common..." (Griscom and Folger 1948:62). Cape Cod****: "A rare spring and common summer and fall migrant....most irregular in appearance....from July 15th to October 1st (Cahoon 1888:153). "SPRING: Formerly very rare....FALL: Formerly very irregular, from absent to abundant." Now "approaching extinction" (Hill 1965:136).

DATES: (from Mackay and museum specimens): APRIL* 13*, late MAY*, JULY 14*, 28**, AUGUST 1***, 6-7, 1972, 15*, 18, 20, 21, 22, 24, 24, 24, 25, 25, 25, 26, 26, 26, 26, 27*, 27, 27, 27, 28, 28, 28, 29, 29, 29, 29, 29, 30, 30, 30, 31, 31, SEPTEMBER** 1**, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 5**, 5, 5, 5, 5, 6*, 6, 7*, 7, 7, 7, 8**, 8, 8, 10**, 10, 10, 11***, 11, 12, 13, 13, 14**, 15*, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 17*, 17, 17, 17, 18*, 18, 18, 18, 18, 20, 22, 23, 24**, 24, 24, 26, 29, 30, OCTOBER** 1, 2, 3, 10* undated******** (Griscom and Snyder 1955; Hahn 1963; Mackay; Thayer 1909). MAJOR FLIGHTS: AUGUST 26 - SEPTEMBER 5.

Information on curlew ecology in Massachusetts begins with Audubon: "During their short stay in that State, they are met with on the high sandy hills near the seashore, where they feed on the grasshoppers and on several kinds of berries. On this food they become fat, so as to afford excellent eating..." (Audubon 1967:6:46).

Cahoon's account is as follows: "They frequent old fields and pastures, often several miles from the shore, and feed on berries, grasshoppers, crickets and other insects. They occasionally go on to the dry salt marshes and there too they find an abundance of grasshoppers and insects. On Monomoy Island******** they are found on the sand hills about the gray moss that covers a large portion of the Island. I have a specimen that was shot out of a flock of Sandpipers on the dry sand beach at Monomoy Island Sept. 10, 1887. Like the other Curlews, they fly high and swiftly, their wings moving with great rapidity, and the flock usually takes the form of the letter V in flying, thus resembling some of our water fowl. While in the air they keep up a continual whistling, which is not as loud as the Hudsonian" (Cahoon 1888:153-154).

George Mackay is the author most frequently quoted for the state of Massachusetts. He contributed the following in 1892: "Of those I have observed in New England during a series of years I may say that most of their habits closely resemble those of the Golden Plover. In migration they fly in much the same manner, with extended and broadside and triangular lines and clusters similar to those of Ducks and Geese at such times. They usually fly low after landing, sweeping slowly over the ground, apparently looking it over, generally standing motionless for quite a little while after alighting, which, owing to their general color approximating so closely to the withered grass, renders it difficult at times to perceive them. I have had a flock of fifty or sixty alight within thirty yards of me, and have been unable to make out more than two or three birds. If disturbed they will frequently alight again at no great distance, if not previously harassed, and under the same conditions they can be approached at all times, for they are either very tame or very shy. They seek out, and are found in, the same localities selected by the Golden Plover (see Auk, Vol. VIII, p. 17) with which they generally associate if any are in the vicinity, there always being a strong friendship between them. They are not so active as the Plover; on the ground they appear less inclined to move about, especially after landing and during rainy weather when I have at times noticed them standing on the ground quite close together, every bird headed to the wind, with heads and necks drawn down and resting on their backs, with the rain running off their tails. At such times they could be approached on foot to within half a gunshot, showing little fear.

..."The only note I have ever heard them make is a kind of squeak, very much like one of the cries of Wilson's Tern (Sterna hirundo), only finer in tone. If one or more of these birds are wounded, after shooting at a flock, they will often keep calling and jumping up, trying to fly, which causes the remainder to hover over or in near proximity to the wounded ones, thus frequently affording an additional shot. They are very gregarious, and unless much harassed will come with the greatest confidence to either Golden Plover, or Curlew decoys (Fig. 16).

"The young birds do not as a rule make their appearance in New England before the eighth or tenth of September, continuing up to about October first. They appear very gentle and tame. I have occasionally shot the older birds on the Island of Nantucket, with their vent stained purple from the berries of the Empetrum nigrum (probably obtained in Labrador)" (Mackay 1892:17-19).

Adding a note to the differential migration of adults and young, Mackay (1929:283) wrote: "Eskimo Curlew. The first flight (old birds) generally appears from the 24th of August to 1st of September, and the young birds from the 8th of September to 1st of October".

Concerning purple colouring, Hapgood (1887:16) also noted that "the birds as far south as Cape Cod, when shot, still have the anal and tibial feathers discolored by the excrements."

Two footnotes accompany the above quotation from Mackay (1892), one on food and the other on a technique for aging. "While on Nantucket Island they seem to prefer the ground near the headlands adjoining the beach shore, even among the beach grass, probably on account of the abundance of the large gray sand spider (Lycosa) which lives in holes in the sand in such localities. They feed on this spider and also eat the seeds of poverty-grass (Hudsonia tomentosa Nutt.), especially when it is on ground which has been burned over."

The second footnote: "There is a way of determining the old birds from the young, where there is little difference in plumage to distinguish them; on bending the legs the former's will break, the latter's will not" (Mackay 1892:18-19).

A more recent observation on the Eskimo Curlew's associates comes from Daniels (1972:907), who reported two as he "was looking over some Black-bellied Plovers and Killdeer."

On curlew feeding, Nuttall (1834:101-102) wrote: "About the close of August or beginning of September, these birds, accompanied by the preceding [Whimbrel], arrive on the shores of Massachusetts Bay, and frequenting the marshes and adjoining pastures, feed at this time much upon grasshoppers, coleoptera, and earth worms, which they collect principally towards evening, or early in the morning."

The analysis of stomach contents has been reported upon only once for the east coast, based on three preserved specimens, collected in September. The stomachs were two-thirds and three-fourths full from Massachusetts and half full from New York, both of which are south of the range of Empetrum nigrum (Map 5 ). They contained 52% field crickets (Gryllus and Nemoblus), 40% grasshoppers (Acrididae), 3.3% beetles, including ground beetles and scarab beetles (Carabidae, Scarabaeidae), 2.7% spiders, 1.7% moths (Lepidoptera) and 0.3% ants (Formicidae). Each stomach had at least 85% grasshoppers and crickets and both Massachusetts birds had consumed spiders. Plant food consisted of a trace of vegetable debris including a single seed of a crab-grass (Digitaria sp ) (Cottam and Knappen 1939:154; 1941:256).

Figure 16. Two 19th-century Massachusetts shorebird decoys from the collection of Ron Swanson. Red Knot in front of Eskimo Curlew. Ron Swanson.

Henry Marion Hall described the Barnstable Marshes of Cape Cod about 1900: "These immense green saltings were then and remain today one of the great gathering and resting places for shore birds....From the Sandwich road they roll in green waves to nine miles of glittering dunes on Sandy Point, which cuts them off from the blue waters of Cape Cod Bay. Thousands of acres of reeds and grass, veined with tidal runs and bordered to the east by Barnstable Harbor, make a perfect haven for migrating shore birds.

"Broad flats and bars bared at low tide make a marvelous place for every kind of beach waif to find sea food....The flights of Eskimo Curlews seemed inexhaustible. Trudging across the green sea meadows at morning-glow, a gunner might flush clouds of them, cries-crossing in mid-air and making the foreshore ring with their cheery cries. Few foresaw their extinction" (Hall 1960:105-106).

Mackay lamented the loss of plover and curlew habitat: "Civilization has encroached upon and absorbed so many of the fields bordering on the coast, to which they used to resort, that there is little room now left for them. On the Island of Nantucket I notice a very great change in the amount of ground suitable for them, there being now not more than one-quarter as much as formerly. This in part is due to the increase of the pine trees, scrub oak, bushes, and beach grass which have greatly

encroached upon the open fields, and in part to the absence of considerable numbers of sheep and cattle which formerly roamed at large and kept down the grass; for the Golden Plover dislikes to alight or run in grass which is high enough to touch the feathers of the breast" (Mackay 1891:17).

Fifty-seven years passed without a report. Then, in 1970: "Daniel and Helen Carmichael watched the bird at the end of Plymouth Beach, Mass. on Aug. 29, studying it at distances down to 25 feet as it fed on insects along the upper beach and in dune grass....The flight call, while not actually described, was said to be not that of a Whimbrel" (Finch 1971:27).

The next, and last, was in 1972, from the south shore of Martha's Vineyard, on August 6 and 7: "All observations (five in toto) were in a field of salt grass between Black Point Pond and Chilmark Pond... I got a quick look at the bird head-on; with 8x30 binoculars; then it turned sidewise and melted into the brownish hay..." (Daniels 1972:907).

Because the big flights were also associated with the big harvests-the ones that were written up-the two are discussed together. Undoubtedly, Massachusetts qualifies for the title of "State of the Big Flight" as far as Eskimo Curlews are concerned. Not that great flights were all that frequent-apparently there were five or six in 76 years: 1808+/- and/or 1813, 1863, 1872+/-, 1881, and 1883 (Table 7; see discussion below). One characteristic of a flight-its brevity-is incorporated into the definition provided by Warren Hapgood, one of the better read (Hearne, Richardson, Coues) and better informed (correspondents in North and South America) sportsmen of his century: "A 'flight' means a continuous movement of flocks sufficient to give the gunner remunerative and satisfactory sport for one or more days at a time" (Hapgood 1887:30-31).

More on the characteristics of flights and the characteristic response of hunters is found in the following excerpt from Hapgood (1887:22-23):

"If for three or four days during the flight period there happens to be a strong northeast wind, attended by considerable rainfall or fog, we are almost sure to get a 'flight of birds....On the 29th of August, 1863, we made a trip to Chatham******, Cape Cod, for the purpose of enjoying several days' plover shooting. The weather was fine, with a westerly wind, and birds very scarce-in fact, the outlook for shooting was gloomy in the extreme. In a couple of days, however, the wind hauled to the eastward and blew fresh, attended by a dense thick fog and considerable rain. Toward evening of the third of September the deflected line of golden plover and Esquimaux curlew struck the shore and were at once driven to the fields or pastures. A few gunners happened to be there, and seventy-seven of the birds were bagged. All night long the birds could be heard crying and calling to each other for help. There were some eight or ten gunners stopping at the same house, and of course there was a great deal of excitement and confusion getting ready for the morrow's slaughter. Long before the golden light had tinged the eastern horizon the next morning, breakfast was dispatched, lunch baskets packed, ammunition snugly bestowed-there were no breech-loaders then-teams were at the door ready to take and distribute the parties in the various fields from one to four miles distant. Quite early the birds came rushing along in the wildest confusion, but paid very little attention to the decoys or call notes.

Table 7. Reported "big flight" years on the Massachusetts coast, 1808+/- to 1888.

1808+/-		August. Boston Harbor. "in such large flocks "		Sumner 1858:53
1813		Cape Cod. Listed among years of "great flights"		Griscom & Snyder 1955:95
1863		Aug. 29. Nantucket, Tuckernuck. 7000 + shot. "greatest...within the memory of men now living."		Forbush 1916:345,420
1863		Sept. 3-4. Cape Cod. Heard all night, flocks all day. Gone 5th		Happood 1887:22
1863		Sept. 5. Cape Cod. "immense flight "		Mackay 1892:19
1863		Cape Cod. Listed among years of "great flights"		Griscom & Snyder 1955:95
1869		Aug. 29. Nantucket "the last great flight in history...."		Griscom & Folger 1948:63
1869		September. Cape Cod. "No flight"		Mackay 1892:19
1872+/-		Nantucket and Cape Cod. "great flight "		Forbush 1916:420
1872		Cape Cod 5000 shot. [Probably based on what Forbush listed as 1872 +/-]		Hill 1965:137
1872		Sept. 15 Cape Cod. "flight, but did not stop " Few birds in 1870, none in 1871, some 1873, none 1874		Mackay 1892:19
1881		Sept. 1. Nantucket. "Quite a number landed "		Mackay 1929:194
1881		Sept. 2. Nantucket. "large flight of Plover and Eskimo Curlew"		Mackay 1891:21
1881		Sept. 3. Nantucket. "great many never saw more"		Mackay 1929:195
1882		Nantucket. 87 killed of 500+/- seen in pasture		Forbush 1916:420
1882		Nantucket. Heard of 25+/-		Mackay 1892:20
1883		Aug., latter part. Cape Cod. "great many flocks...large...."		Cahoon 1888:153
1883		Aug. 26. Nantucket. "large numbers.. "		Mackay 1892:20
1883		Aug. 30. Cape Cod. "such a flight 'may never be seen again'"		Forbush 1916:421
1883		Cape Cod. Listed among years of "great flights"		Griscom & Snyder 1955:95
1888		[Sept. 2] Cape Cod. "quite a flight...."		Anonymous 1888:160
1888		Sept. 1. Nantucket. "Quite a number...landed...."		Mackay 1892:20

Those that did alight seemed perfectly bewildered and stared about as much as to say, 'Where are we? What has happened?' Flock after flock went rushing along, pellmell, as best they could in a gale of wind, till night fortunately overtook the weary birds and their pursuers. The parties drove back to the house one after the other, and spread out the contents of their 'bags' upon the floor-two hundred and eighty-one golden plover and Esquemaux curlew together with a few beetle-heads! It was a grand sight! Of course there was some pretty tall talking done on that memorable night. We would not vouch for the truth of all the stories that were told. A slight deviation, a little-just a little-exaggeration upon such an occasion is pardonable. There was about as little sleeping done in that house that night, as was ever done in a house of its size. Well, teams had been ordered for the next day (Sept. 5th.,) with every prospect of favorable results, when, lo! the wind had shifted to the northwest! It was a cool, crisp, bracing morning, and scarcely a bird to be seen anywhere. This little narrative will show how dependent we are at this point upon an easterly storm for golden plover and curlew-shooting. It so happens that for years there will not to [sic] be at the proper time a storm sufficient to throw the birds on to the land...."

Returning to Table 7, there appear to be some inconsistencies, particularly since Cape Cod begins only 19 km (12 mi.) north of Nantucket Island. The first flight for which we found data was written up in 1858 and relates to the islands in Boston Harbor, but is far from clear as to date. It could have been an 1808+/- or an 1813 flight: "This law...was passed on the 3d of April, 1622....Whether the ducks and plover which two centuries afterward frequented the Island [Noddles] in great numbers were at that time so plenty as to be caught with nets, we are left in doubt....Be that as it may, the writer of this, a half century since, in a violent north-east storm, has known that kind of plover called dough-birds, from their superlative fatness, light upon the Island in such large flocks and in such a wearied condition, that it seemed as difficult for them to fly as it is for seals to run; and Mr. Williams related to him, that in attempting to rise on the wing they were chased by the men and boys and knocked down with clubs! None are now to be seen where once they were so abundant" (Sumner 1858:53).

There is agreement about a flight in 1863-Hapgood and Mackay observed it firsthand and Forbush got his information from J.M. Winslow, a shooting companion of Mackay's (Mackay 1929:97). Discrepancies in dates-August 29-September 5 -are difficult to explain, unless memories were consulted, rather than notes made at the time.

Concerning the 1869 flight, Griscom and Folger (1948:63) present this information in a table that agrees sufficiently with Mackay's data to suggest that all of the table came from Mackay. If so, "1869. August 29" should read "1863. August 29", coinciding with Forbush's date. There may well have been no flight in 1869.

As for 1872, Mackay's only observations were "one flock of fifty" and that "some...landed" on August 29 (Auk 1892) and August 30 (in his published journal); he adds, "I heard of no one killing any Plover, either on Nantucket, Chappaquidec, or on parts of the Cape" (1929:96- 97). Hill's reference to 5000 birds being killed in "1872" is probably based on Forbush's report of market values "about 1872" (Forbush 1916:420). But, for adjacent years, Mackay (1892:19) found "no flight or birds" in 1871 and 1874, "very few scattering birds" in 1870 and "some" on August 25, 1873. So, when the Dough-birds actually came, resulting in a huge harvest, remains a mystery. Even if Mackay missed it in person, it seems likely that he would have heard about
and reported it. (The Massachusetts entry in his "Shooting Journal" for that year covered only seven days (Aug. 25-31) between July 3 and October 10, but his 1892 article in the Auk covered the entire 1872 season.)

It is not surprising that other chroniclers did not mention Mackay's 1881 flight. While he referred to it as "a large flight of Plover and Eskimo Curlew" and "some Eskimo Curlew" in the Auk 1891:21 and 1892:20, his conclusion that "I never saw more birds on Nantucket" was not made public until 1929, which was after Forbush 1916 (Mackay 1929:195).

It is quite possible that Winslow's report to Forbush (1916:420) for 1882 was actually Mackay's flight of 1881 or 1883 (Mackay 1891:21-22, 1892:20).

Three authorities corroborate the 1883 flight. The 1888 flight was probably a minor one, although it was the last one worth mentioning. Assuming that either 1808 or 1813 was a big-flight year, even though we have found no other reference to the latter, five big curlew flights probably occurred in Massachusetts from 1808 through the near extinction of the species.

George Mackay was a moderate and, eventually, concerned hunter. In seven articles in the Auk and his 373-page journal, he provided comments on 41 consecutive falls-1858-1898-in the Nantucket-Cape Cod area. In summary for Eskimo Curlews, threre was one year with an "immense flight" (1863), one year -1881- that apparently exceeded it, three that varied from "a good many" to "large flight" (1877, 1883 and 1884) and ten in which there were no birds (1862, 1864, 1865, 1867, 1871, 1874, 1879, 1894, 1895 and 1896). In the remaining 26 years numbers varied from "a few" to "some" (Mackay 1891, 1892, 1893b, 1894, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1929).

Forbush (1916:345-346) narrated hunting events related to the 1863 flight: "Mr Henry Shaw tells me that 'soon after 1860,'a great flight of these birds swarmed over the fields and hills south of Worcester. On the first day he and one other hunter alone found them, but on the second day nearly every man and boy who heard of it and could secure a gun was out shooting. This probably was a part of the great flight of 1863. Mr. Winslow of Nantucket well remembers this flight (August 29, 1863), when Golden Plover and Eskimo Curlews landed on the island in such numbers as to 'almost darken the sun.' Between seven and eight thousand of these birds were killed on the island and on Tuckernuck [Island]. All the powder and shot on Nantucket were expended, and the gunners had to send to the mainland for more. After that the wind changed to the southwest, and there was good shooting for two weeks."

He also mentioned the 1872+/- event: "Mr. Elbridge Gerry tells me that 'about 1872' Dough-birds came in a great flight to Cape Cod and Nantucket. They 'were everywhere,' and were killed in such numbers on the Cape that the boys offered them for sale at six cents each. Two market hunters killed three hundred dollars' worth at that time" (Forbush 1916:420). From these figures, Hill (1965:137) calculated 5,000 killed.

Bent (1962:133) may have been referring to the same flight when he wrote: "I can remember hearing my father tell of the great shooting they used to have on 'the plains' at Cohasset when I was a small boy, about 1870. As he has now gone to the happy hunting grounds I can not give the exact figures, but he saw a wagon loaded full of 'dough birds' shot on the plains in one day."

Mackay (1895:78) described a year without a big flight as follows: "The season of 1894 was unusually dry and warm, with entire absence of storms, moderate, pleasant weather prevailing throughout the entire migrating period, thus rendering it a matter of inclination, rather than necessity, that any American Golden Plovers...or Eskimo Curlews...should temporarily stop on the islands composing the group of which Nantucket is one. As a result but few Plovers did tarry, and no Eskimo Curlews."

Market hunting was obviously an important part of the Eskimo Curlew story. Trumbull (1888:203) noted: "[Eskimo Curlew] is a great favorite with Boston epicures, and the gunners get from seventy-five cents to a dollar apiece for them; as a table dainty I consider them superior to all other birds, but they should hang with the feathers on, in a shady, breezy place, for four or five days before being cooked."

Cahoon (1888:154) also wrote about hunting, saying that Dough-birds "are well flavored and being very fat and of good size, command a price nearly double that of any other shore bird. Gunners realize as much profit from these birds in several day's [sic] shooting, when they are plenty, as they do in a season's shooting of other birds."

An indication of the impact on curlews of spring shooting in the Midwestern states may be gleaned from the following two paragraphs by Mackay: "To those interested in this direction I give the following result of some inquiry I made recently of two game dealers in Boston. About four years ago [1887] the shipment of Golden Plover, Eskimo Curlew, and Bartramian Sandpipers first commenced in the spring, and it has been on the increase up to date. Last spring (1890) these two firms received from Nebraska (principally), St. Louis, and Texas (Fort Worth) twenty barrels of birds, one third of which were Golden Plover, two thirds Bartramian Sandpipers; eight barrels of Eskimo Curlew; twelve barrels of Eskimo Curlew and Golden Plover. As there are twenty-five dozen Curlew, and sixty dozen Plover each to a barrel, it will be realized what this means, if other large cities are similarly supplied. All were killed on their northern migration to their breeding grounds. Therefore while we may not be able now to answer the question: are they fewer than formerly, we shall be ably fitted to do so in a few years" (1891:24).

"Some of the large game dealers in Boston, Mass., received as usual the past spring and summer [1896], considerable numbers of these birds [curlew and plover] which had been taken in the Mississippi Valley while on their northern migration to their breeding grounds. Among them were large numbers of the Bartramian Sandpipers, which bird is already scarce as a resident on the New England coast. Are we not approaching the beginning of the end?" (1897:214).

In contrast, the fall supply of curlews was nil through this period because of a lack of flights. In 1894: "During the season I have made inquires [sic] of three of the largest game stalls in Faneuil Hall Market, Boston; the answer was always the same, none of them had received any Golden Plovers, and but a single Eskimo Curlew had been brought in." Based on similar enquiries in the market, it was the same story in 1895 -"have failed to learn of any Eskimo Curlew...taken on Cape Cod and at Ipswich, Mass."-and in 1897 and 1898 (Mackay 1895:79, 1896a:80, 1898:53, 1899:180).

Not all hunters killed every bird they saw. "Many well-known sportsmen were enthusiastic shore bird gunners. Daniel Webster [1782-1852], once as famous along shore as he was in the United States Senate, used to put up every season at the Old Sandwich Inn adjacent to the Barnstable marshes on Cape Cod....When an easterly storm blew a big flight of curlews, yellowlegs, and plovers to the shores of Cape Cod, Webster carried his decoys out on the meadows....But Webster was a true sportsman, limiting his bag of game to reasonable numbers" (Hall 1960:105-106).

As bad as some of the above kills sound, Mackay was probably right in his estimate of the effect of hunting on Eskimo Curlews on the east coast of the United States: "They suffer but little, however, in New England from such pursuit, as the number killed in the great majority of years is trivial and has no effect in diminishing their numbers" (Mackay 1892:16).

The final word on the Eskimo Curlew in Massachusetts belongs to Henry Marion Hall: "Our chief reminder of its former status as a game bird is an occasional dusty decoy for sale in some antique shop..." (Hall 1960:106).

OTHER LOCALITIES: Boston***, Bristol Co., Cape Pogue, Dennis, East Boston, Eastham, East Orleans*, Great Island**, Ipswich*****, Lynn?*, Newburyport**, North Eastham, North Plymouth, North Scituate, North Truro******, Orleans, Provincetown Revere Beach*, Salem Wellfleet and West Barnstable Massachusetts** (Howe and Allen 1901; Forbush 1916; Sumner 1858; Hahn 1963; Thayer 1909; Trumbull 1888; Cahoon 1888; Griscom and Snyder 1955; Audubon 1967).

Giraud (1844): "'In...Rhode Island, this species is seen every season [year]'" (in Stone 1965:423).

DATES: AUGUST* 27 SEPTEMBER 5*, 5*, 1913 (Hahn 1963; Howe 1901b).

In 1844 Giraud wrote: "In New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, this species is seen every season [year]. It frequents the open grounds in the vicinity of the seacoast, feeding on grasshoppers, insects, seeds, worms and berries. It arrives among us in the latter part of August, and remains until the first of November, when it assembles in flocks, and moves off to its winter quarters. I have shot a few stragglers in this vicinity as late as the twentieth of November" (in Stone 1965:423). Because Giraud's comments were probably not equally valid for each state and because he may not have had the right species in November, only his first sentences repeated for each state mentioned.

In 1901, R.H. Howe published a table of "Water-bird Shooting About Newport From 1867 To 1874." It covered the hunting bag of "a single gunner, Mr. Robt. L. Dring, on the Newport and Jamestown marshes. This list not only shows how scarce our water-birds are now, to what they used to be, but why they have become scarce. Mr. Dring is to be praised over other gunners on having made careful notes on his shooting, as the present data is of interest and of scientific value." There were no Eskimo Curlew reported from 1867 through 1873, but in 1874 seven birds were listed for 27 August. In that year 2780 birds were shot by Mr Dring and in the 8 years, 12,168 birds of 41 species, including 19 species of shorebirds.

OTHER LOCALITIES: Little Compton*, Seaconne(t)** (Sakonnet) (Hahn 1963).

DATES:1842+/-*, SEPTEMBER 12*, 1889, 0CTOBER 13 (Hahn 1963; Cooke 1910).

LOCALITIES: New Haven**, Saybrook, Stratford (Trumbull 1888, plus references under DATES). All three are on the coast across from Long Island, New York

Barrows (1912:207): "Up to about 1890 it probably occurred with more or less regularity both spring and fall ..." Wood (1951:176): "Formerly occurred...in migration." Michigan lies between what was a minor fall route and the major spring migration route of the Eskimo Curlew.

DATES: SPRING 1883**, OCTOBER 28*, FALL* (Wood 1951; Hahn 1963).

All the Michigan records have been summarized as follows: "According to Gibbs (MS. List) B.F. Syke secured a female on the north marsh at Kalamazoo*, October 28, 1879. It was the only one seen. In a letter to Dr. Gibbs the late W.H. Collins of Detroit said 'It is quite common in Detroit* markets spring and fall. Two specimens taken at St. Clair Flats** in the spring of 1883. .'" (Barrows 1912:207). There is no indication of the origin of the market birds.

Wheaton (1882:493): "Not common spring and fall migrant." Borrer (1950:12) and
Trautman and Trautman (1968:321) list it as extirpated.

Jones (1903:78) suggests that Wheaton's diagnosis above is without proof. He adds,"Moseley reports it as rare in Erie county as seen by Dr. Graffe." This county on the shore of Lake Erie is the origin of what appears to be the only museum specimen, taken "within a 10 mile radius of Sandusky*" (Trautman and Trautman 1968:321 ).

From Wheaton (1882): "Mr. Winslow gives it as not rare in the vicinity of Cleveland. Mr. Langdon, states on the authority of Mr. Shorten, that a specimen was taken in the vicinity of Cincinati [sic], in September, 1878. In this vicinity of this city [Columbus fide Jones] it is very rare; I have seen a single specimen accompanying a flock of Golden Plover, in autumn, several years since" (Wheaton 1882:493).

"There is but one authentic record-a specimen shot by James Thompson at Erie* on September 17, 1889*..." (Todd 1940:215). However, Hahn (1963: 190) lists another specimen from " Philadelphia*, Pennsylvania" without further information. Wilson and Bonaparte ([1878]:3:397) claim to "have met with it" in the Philadelphia markets, but give no indication of whether the bird(s?) were of local or out-of-state origin.

Giraud (1844): "Found every season [year].... It arrives on the shores of Long Island**** in the latter part of August, and remains until the 1st of November, when it assembles in large flocks and moves off to its winter quarters" (Probably not all Eskimo Curlews; in Baird et al. 1884:1:321): Eaton 1910:341: "Formerly a regular fall migrant on Long Island and perhaps in western New York.. ." Bull 1964:195: "Migrated in fall to the Atlantic coast south to Long Island (chiefly offshore)...." Long Island: "During a period of about twelve years' Bay Snipe shooting...I have only four records of this bird...1875...1876...1884" (Lawrence 1885:273). Its occurrence on Long Island was "usually after sustained easterly gales in September" (Bull 1964:195)." 0swego co...tv [transient visitor?], rare. Several times in 25 years" (D D. Stone in Eaton 1910:342).

DATES: MAY 8, AUGUST**, 3, SEPTEMBER 7, 1947, 7*, 10, 11*, 11, 11, 11, 11, 12, 12, 13, 13, 14+/-, 15, 16, 16*, 26, 30**, OCTOBER 2*, NOVEMBER 1; undated******* (Eaton 1910; Hahn 1963; Terres 1980; Bull 1964; Lawrence 1885; Murphy 1933; Baird et al. 1884).

"In the vicinity of New York it is known by the name of Futes (Baird et al 1884:1:321)

Of a probable sighting on September 16, 1932, at Montauk Point**, Long Island, Murphy (1933:101-102) writes: "By daylight a lively storm was in progress, with half a gale blowing from the northeast. . Soon after daylight our younger son called attention to four curlews coming from the direction of the sea. The birds circled for a short time, and then alighted among the vegetation of a hillock not far from our tent. With my two sons I stalked the birds, and we observed them through field glasses from a distance subsequently paced off at fifteen yards. The birds seemed wary but not shy and when we finally flushed them they alighted again and permitted a second close approach." (Asterisks, meaning specimens collected, are not for this observation.)

The most recent report of this species for New York was by N.L. Herrick, an ardent sportsman, who was familiar with it in the 1890s. Of his observation on September 7,1947, at Cedarhurst, Long Island, he writes " 'Roughly speaking, its size and wing spread is scarcely two-thirds that of the average Jack Curlew the bill was distinctly shorter, its body conformation lighter and its note was a very gentle sound, less harsh than its larger relative. I whistled it close to my boat, it circled several times and I had an excellent opportunity to observe its flight, coloration of plumage which was distinctly mouse-gray, much lighter than the varying shades of tobacco-brown usually found on the Jack Curlew. Moreover, it was very gentle and tame, which is typical of the Eskimo'" (Nichols 1948:6).

Little has apparently been written about the hunting of curlews in New York. The following comes from Nelson Verity, sportsman, guide and feather-hunter of Seaford, Long Island: "'I remember the last fair-sized flock I ever saw [1870s]. It was on a stormy September day. For a couple of days a northeaster had flooded the bay; the meadows (bay islands) were flooded. l was gunning south of here not far from shore and a good-sized floating island of thick, dead thatch was stirring around ahead of me. All of a sudden a close flock of about 40 Eskimo Curlews came by and alighted on the floating thatch island. I shot and got quite a few, bunched as they were. Then instead of flying off they returned and I got some more. They were easy to shoot, always coming back, and do you know: I got every bird of that flock down to the last one'" (Elliott 1956:86).

With no indication of dates or source of the birds, Bonaparte wrote: "We...have occasionally met with it also in the markets of New York" (Wilson and Bonaparte [1878]:3:397)

Little has apparently been written about the curlew's decline in New York but there is this anecdote: "Old veteran baymen seemed to hold themselves guiltless and considered it their inalienable right to gun to the limit....They always retorted with a comment like: 'Why there ain't half as many birds on the bay today with all your protection like there were years ago'" (Elliott 1956:86).

OTHER LOCALITIES: Amityville*, Brockport, Cooper, Far Rockaway*, Freeport*, Good Ground***, Hemstead, Lockport*, Long Beach, Moriches, Otisco, Rensselaer Co., Rochester*, Shinnecock Bay (Trumbull 1888; Crosby 1930, plus references under DATES).

Giraud (1844): "In New Jersey...this species is seen every season [year]" (in Stone 1965:423). "Turnbull in 1869 regards it as rather rare appearing in May and again in September' on the New Jersey coast" (Stone 1965:423). Krider (1879:68): "Found along the seashore from New York to Cape May, New Jersey." American Ornithologists' Union (1931:113): "Formerly a common autumn transient...southward to...northern New Jersey." Leck (1984:69): "Presumably it was once an occasional fall migrant along our coast."

DATES: SUMMER*, SEPTEMBER 20, 30, 1960 (Iversen and Kane 1975; Weston and Williams 1965; Leck 1984).

" 'About mid-day on 20 September 1959, I saw a small curlew feeding in a grassy field on the Coast Guard Receiving Center, at Cape May.., When I approached within about fifteen feet, the curlew flew straight away... As it left, the curlew gave a call, which, although I cannot describe it now, was unlike that which I have often heard from the Whimbrel. It flew to the southeast and disappeared over the Atlantic Ocean' " (L.E. Williams in Weston and Williams 1965:494).

The most recent sight record for the state was at South Cape May, 30 September 1960, for which no additional information was given (Leck 1984:70).

OTHER LOCALITIES: Manasquan* (Leck 1984)

"Apparently formerly occurred in Maryland as a rare transient" (Stewart and Robbins 1958:141).

DATES: Not given. Two records a specimen in or before 1861 and an observation in 1913.

LOCALITIES: Potomac River*, Ocean City.

In 1709 John Lawson published a book titled, in part: A new voyage to Carolina; containing the exact description and natural history of that country: together with the present status thereof... Apparently travelling in late summer or fall, he was perceptive enough to notice that "of Curlues there are three sorts, and vast Numbers of each. They all have long Bills, and differ neither in Colour, nor Shape, only in Size. The largest is as big as a good Hen, the smaller the Bigness of a Snipe, or something bigger." He also lists among the birds he shot "3 dozen of Parakeeto's [the extinct Carolina Parakeet], and 6 dozen of other small Fowls, as Curlues and Plover, etc." (Lawson 1709:147, 73).

The smallest was undoubtedly the Eskimo Curlew and, if Lawson's "vast numbers" was not a generalization but did accurately describe this species' abundance; they were presumably present as the result of a storm, and were more common than has ever since been recorded on the coast south of Massachusetts. The lack of subsequent reports of large numbers may also be due to an absence of observers or to different storm systems than exist now, as Banks (1977:132) has suggested.

"On 28 April 1973, I was walking on the large sandflats at the extreme northern end of Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge....l saw three curlews through my 30X telescope. They took off and they were clearly Whimbrels, a species with which I am thoroughly familiar. But there was a fourth bird, about two-thirds the size of the other three generally buffy. no obvious rump or wing markings and a shorter but clearly downcurved beak...I had the impression of buffy under-wing coverts" (Sonneborn 1975:35).

Sprunt and Chamberlain (1949:226): "Formerly a casual transient along the coast."
Burton (in Sprunt and Chamberlain 1970:640) has put it on the hypothetical list.

DATES: Early JUNE, JULY 15, 1956.

The first report was by Audubon prior to 1833: "On one occasion only have I ever had a glimpse of it [Eskimo Curlew]. I was in company with my learned and generous friend JOHN BACHMAN of Charleston, on one of the islands on the coast of South Carolina, whither we had gone with the view of watching Long-billed Curlews (Numenius longirostris). It was at dawn of a fine day, when a dense flock of the northern Curlews passed to the southward, near enough to enable us to ascertain the species, but so swiftly, that in a few minutes they were quite out of sight."

Wayne in 1906:61 wrote: "I have never seen this Curlew alive, but in the Museum of the College of Charleston there were many mounted specimens, that were labeled by Dr. Bachman as follows: 'South Carolina. Winter.' All of these specimens were dust-stained and moth-eaten' and when Dr. G.E. Manigault became the curator [in the 1870s] they, among other birds, were thrown away as trash." Bent (1962:136) writes that these birds are probably referable to N. hudsonicus [Whimbrel].

There is a report of a small curlew being flushed with three Whimbrels in early June, 1946, on Raccoon Key, Cape Romain Refuge (Burton in Sprunt and Chamberlain 1970:640).

The most recent sight record is given, in part, as follows: "On 15 July 1956, the authors had an Eskimo Curlew under observation for 30 minutes...on the west end of Folly Island, about 12 miles south of Charleston....about 100 yards away....All the time we had the bird under observation, it fed actively on the small sand bar. It would walk or run for a few feet and apparently pick up objects along the edge of the water. It was never seen to probe into the sand as do so many beach birds. The rising tide soon forced it to take flight and, as it flew away from us, we had a clear view of a dark, unmarked back" (Weston and Williams 1965:493).

Burleigh (1958:699): "Hypothetical...This is another species included by John LeConte in his list of the birds of Georgia (White 1849)."

Scott (1892:211-212), who spent from 2ovember 1891 until 26 April 1892 in the vicinity of the Caloosahatchie River, listed Numenius borealis among the "regular migrants...being only of passage in spring and fall." Sprunt (1954:497) regards the foregoing as an error and lists the species as hypothetical.