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Starlings on Point Reyes Peninsula, Marin County, California

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Starlings on Point Reyes Peninsula, Marin County, California.-On February 8, 1949, I observed three flocks of European Starlings (Stztmzrs vulgaris) totaling more than 47 birds about the ranch property at the head of Barries Bay, the westernmost arm of Drakes Estero, Marin County, California. On February 13, a trip was made to the same area with Seth Bailey, Howard L. Cogswell and Robert W. Storer. On this later trip we saw more than 50 birds in at least five separate flocks. Three flocks consisted of Starlings, the fourth of Starlings and Western Meadowlarks and the fifth of a dozen or so Starlings among several hundred Brewer Blackbirds and Red-winged Blackbirds. The flocks were scattered from the ranch at the head of Barries Bay south to the Mendoza Ranch on Point Reyes, a distance of about 4% miles. A hurried survey was made of the rest of the grassland north of Drakes Ester0 as far as the Pierce Ranch near White Gulch on Tomales Point, but no Starlings were seen north of the Barries Bay area. The east side of Drakes Bay was not visited.

Numerous birds were observed under very favorable conditions at distances of not more than 100 feet, but the local landowners prevented our collecting any birds. Starlings in both first winter and adult plumage were noted.

Starlings were seen in the same. area on February 23? by Mrs. Junea W. Kelly of Alameda and on March I, by Seth Bailey. When Bailey revisited the area on March 6 and March 20, no Starlings were seen.-GORON~ W. GULLION, Richmond, California, April 26,1949.

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