Sporadic Recurrence of Red-Breasted Nuthatches in San Diego City Parks
Sporadic Recurrence of Red-breasted Nuthatches in San Diego City Parks.-Perusal of the recently issued “Distribution of the Birds of California” by Grinnell and Miller (Pac. Coast Avif. No. 27, 1944) reveals the gaps in known ranges and emphasizes the desirability of placing unrecorded nptes in print. A case in point is the fact that Henry Grey’s observation of the Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta camzdensis) in October, 1919 (Condor, 27, 1925:37) is the sole record of this species for San Diego County. The locality was no doubt near Grey’s home in Mission Valley, which is within the city limits of San Diego.
The writer now recalls that between December, 1933, and March, 1934, the late A. W. Anthony told several times of seeing Red-breasted Nuthatches in a section of western Balboa Park that is planted with pine trees. In this Same general area, Ken Stott, Jr., reported that he observed about ten of these nuthatches on October 4, 1944. On November 29, 1944, Mrs. E. B. Mead found six Redbreasted Nuthatches in a group of incense cedars in Presidio Park, North San Diego. In Presidio Park the writer also observed three birds, probably part of the same group, and heard others, in a small grove of pines on January 20, 1945. Through closer observation, the Red-breasted Nuthatch may be shown to be a regular annual fall or winter visitor to the city of San DiegO.--LAURENCE M. HUEY, Natural History Museum, Balboa Park, San Diego, California, March 23, 1945.
