History Compiled for 706 Species of Wildbirds in North America Prior to 1859

After an lengthy review of several hundred - at least 500 - types of narrative records by so many scribes, as well as considering available anthropological derivatives, a composite, yet interim list of species can be derived for twelve millennium. Details of each known species is based on some particular notation in chronicles of many sorts.

There are not enough words to convey the phantasmagoria shown by the variety which has been written, once and again.

This list is snatched in a current state for this time, based on effective and focused research. The species are given in the nebulous order of a North American ornithological society, which continually revises names and taxonomic sequence - to the ongoing tribulation for a keeper of bird records - and with suggested common names as given by an international ornithological group. Subtle differences are shown in a list sterile with just basics, stripped of such an array of subtle and integral details shown in words from throughout the continent, by men keeping on their way. Each species listed is based on a record of occurrence.

American Ornithologists' Union Common Name - Common Name International Ornitological Congress
• Black-bellied Whistling-Duck - Black-bellied Whistling Duck • West Indian Whistling-Duck - West Indian Whistling Duck • Taiga Bean-Goose - Bean Goose • Greater White-fronted Goose - Greater White-fronted Goose • Emperor Goose - Emperor Goose • Snow Goose - Snow Goose • Ross's Goose - Ross's Goose • Brant - Brant Goose • Barnacle Goose - Barnacle Goose • Cackling Goose - Cackling Goose • Canada Goose - Canada Goose • Trumpeter Swan - Trumpeter Swan • Tundra Swan - Tundra Swan • Muscovy Duck - Muscovy Duck • Wood Duck - Wood Duck • Gadwall - Gadwall • American Wigeon - American Wigeon • American Black Duck - American Black Duck • Mallard - Mallard • Mottled Duck - Mottled Duck • Blue-winged Teal - Blue-winged Teal • Cinnamon Teal - Cinnamon Teal • Northern Shoveler - Northern Shoveler • White-cheeked Pintail - White-cheeked Pintail • Northern Pintail - Northern Pintail • Garganey - Garganey • Green-winged Teal - Green-winged Teal • Canvasback - Canvasback • Redhead - Redhead • Ring-necked Duck - Ring-necked Duck • Tufted Duck - Tufted Duck • Greater Scaup - Greater Scaup • Lesser Scaup - Lesser Scaup • Steller's Eider - Steller's Eider • Spectacled Eider - Spectacled Eider • King Eider - King Eider • Common Eider - Eaton's Pintail • Harlequin Duck - Yellow-billed Pintail • Labrador Duck - • Surf Scoter - Surf Scoter • White-winged Scoter - White-winged Scoter • Black Scoter - Black Scoter • Long-tailed Duck - Long-tailed Duck • Bufflehead - Bufflehead • Common Goldeneye - Common Goldeneye • Barrow’s Goldeneye - Barrow's Goldeneye • Smew - Smew • Hooded Merganser - Hooded Merganser • Common Merganser - Common Merganser • Red-breasted Merganser - Red-breasted Merganser • Ruddy Duck - Ruddy Duck • Plain Chachalaca - Plain Chachalaca • White-bellied Chachalaca - White-bellied Chachalaca • Crested Guan - Crested Guan • Great Curassow - Great Curassow • Gray Partridge - Grey Partridge • Ring-necked Pheasant - Common Pheasant • Common Peafowl - Indian Peafowl • Ruffed Grouse - Ruffed Grouse • Greater Sage-Grouse - Sage Grouse • Spruce Grouse - Spruce Grouse • Willow Ptarmigan - Willow Ptarmigan • Rock Ptarmigan - Rock Ptarmigan • White-tailed Ptarmigan - White-tailed Ptarmigan • Dusky Grouse - Dusky Grouse • Sharp-tailed Grouse - Sharp-tailed Grouse • Greater Prairie-Chicken - Greater Prairie Chicken • Lesser Prairie-Chicken - Lesser Prairie Chicken • Wild Turkey - Wild Turkey • Ocellated Turkey - Ocellated Turkey • Mountain Quail - Mountain Quail • Scaled Quail - Scaled Quail • Elegant Quail - Elegant Quail • California Quail - California Quail • Gambel's Quail - Gambel's Quail • Northern Bobwhite - Northern Bobwhite • Black-throated Bobwhite - Yucatan Bobwhite • Crested Bobwhite - Crested Bobwhite • Spotted Wood-Quail - Spotted Wood Quail • Singing Quail - Singing Quail • Montezuma Quail - Montezuma Quail • Ocellated Quail - Ocellated Quail • Red-throated Loon - Red-throated Loon • Arctic Loon - Black-throated Loon • Pacific Loon - Pacific Loon • Common Loon - Great Northern Loon • Yellow-billed Loon - Yellow-billed Loon • Least Grebe - Least Grebe • Pied-billed Grebe - Pied-billed Grebe • Great Crested Grebe - Great Crested Grebe • Horned Grebe - Horned Grebe • Red-necked Grebe - Red-necked Grebe • Eared Grebe - Black-necked Grebe • Western Grebe - Western Grebe • Yellow-nosed Albatross - Yellow-nosed Albatross • Light-mantled Albatross - Light-mantled Albatross • Laysan Albatross - Laysan Albatross • Black-footed Albatross - Black-footed Albatross • Short-tailed Albatross - Short-tailed Albatross • Northern Fulmar - Northern Fulmar • Bermuda Petrel - Cahow • Pink-footed Shearwater - Pink-footed Shearwater • Greater Shearwater - Great Shearwater • Buller’s Shearwater - Buller's Shearwater • Sooty Shearwater - Sooty Shearwater • Short-tailed Shearwater - Short-tailed Shearwater • Manx Shearwater - Manx Shearwater • Black-vented Shearwater - Black-vented Shearwater • Audubon’s Shearwater - Audubon's Shearwater • Wilson’s Storm-Petrel - Wilson's Storm Petrel • European Storm-Petrel - European Storm Petrel • Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel - Fork-tailed Storm Petrel • Leach's Storm-Petrel - Leach's Storm Petrel • Ashy Storm-Petrel - Ashy Storm Petrel • Black Storm-Petrel - Black Storm Petrel • White-tailed Tropicbird - White-tailed Tropicbird • Red-billed Tropicbird - Red-billed Tropicbird • Brown Booby - Brown Booby • Northern Gannet - Northern Gannet • American White Pelican - American White Pelican • Brown Pelican - Brown Pelican • Brandt's Cormorant - Brandt's Cormorant • Neotropic Cormorant - Neotropic Cormorant • Double-crested Cormorant - Double-crested Cormorant • Great Cormorant - Great Cormorant • Red-faced Cormorant - Red-faced Shag • Pelagic Cormorant - Pelagic Shag • Anhinga - Anhinga • Magnificent Frigatebird - Magnificent Frigatebird • American Bittern - American Bittern • Least Bittern - Least Bittern • Bare-throated Tiger-Heron - Bare-throated Tiger Heron • Great Blue Heron - Great Blue Heron • Great Egret - Great Egret • Snowy Egret - Snowy Egret • Little Blue Heron - Little Blue Heron • Tricolored Heron - Tricolored Heron • Reddish Egret - Reddish Egret • Green Heron - Green Heron • Black-crowned Night-Heron - Black-crowned Night Heron • Yellow-crowned Night-Heron - Yellow-crowned Night Heron • White Ibis - American White Ibis • Scarlet Ibis - Scarlet Ibis • Glossy Ibis - Glossy Ibis • White-faced Ibis - White-faced Ibis • Roseate Spoonbill - Roseate Spoonbill • Jabiru - Jabiru • Wood Stork - Wood Stork • Greater Flamingo - Greater Flamingo • Black Vulture - Black Vulture • Turkey Vulture - Turkey Vulture • California Condor - California Condor • King Vulture - King Vulture • Osprey - Osprey • Swallow-tailed Kite - Swallow-tailed Kite • White-tailed Kite - White-tailed Kite • Mississippi Kite - Mississippi Kite • Plumbeous Kite - Plumbeous Kite • Bald Eagle - Bald Eagle • White-tailed Eagle - White-tailed Eagle • Steller's Sea-Eagle - Steller's Sea Eagle • Northern Harrier - Northern Harrier • Sharp-shinned Hawk - Sharp-shinned Hawk • Cooper's Hawk - Cooper's Hawk • Bicolored Hawk - Bicolored Hawk • Northern Goshawk - Northern Goshawk • Common Black-Hawk - Common Black Hawk • Great Black-Hawk - Great Black Hawk • Harris's Hawk - Harris's Hawk • Roadside Hawk - Roadside Hawk • Red-shouldered Hawk - Red-shouldered Hawk • Broad-winged Hawk - Broad-winged Hawk • Gray Hawk - Grey-lined Hawk • Short-tailed Hawk - Short-tailed Hawk • Swainson's Hawk - Swainson's Hawk • White-tailed Hawk - White-tailed Hawk • Zone-tailed Hawk - Zone-tailed Hawk • Red-tailed Hawk - Red-tailed Hawk • Ferruginous Hawk - Ferruginous Hawk • Rough-legged Hawk - Roughleg • Harpy Eagle - Harpy Eagle • Golden Eagle - Golden Eagle • Ornate Hawk-Eagle - Ornate Hawk-Eagle • Collared Forest-Falcon - Collared Forest Falcon • Crested Caracara - Northern Crested Caracara • Laughing Falcon - Laughing Falcon • American Kestrel - American Kestrel • Merlin - Merlin • Aplomado Falcon - Aplomado Falcon • Gyrfalcon - Gyrfalcon • Peregrine Falcon - Peregrine Falcon • Prairie Falcon - Prairie Falcon • Yellow Rail - Yellow Rail • Gray-breasted Crake - Grey-breasted Crake • Black Rail - Black Rail • Clapper Rail - Clapper Rail • King Rail - King Rail • Virginia Rail - Virginia Rail • Sora - Sora • Purple Gallinule - Purple Gallinule • Common Moorhen - Common Moorhen • American Coot - American Coot • Caribbean Coot - Caribbean Coot • Limpkin - Limpkin • Sandhill Crane - Sandhill Crane • Whooping Crane - Whooping Crane • Northern Lapwing - Northern Lapwing • Black-bellied Plover - Grey Plover • European Golden-Plover - European Golden Plover • American Golden-Plover - American Golden Plover • Wilson’s Plover - Wilson's Plover • Common Ringed Plover - Common Ringed Plover • Semipalmated Plover - Semipalmated Plover • Piping Plover - Piping Plover • Killdeer - Killdeer • Mountain Plover - Mountain Plover • American Oystercatcher - American Oystercatcher • Black Oystercatcher - Black Oystercatcher • Black-necked Stilt - Black-necked Stilt • American Avocet - American Avocet • Northern Jacana - Northern Jacana • Spotted Sandpiper - Spotted Sandpiper • Solitary Sandpiper - Solitary Sandpiper • Gray-tailed Tattler - Grey-tailed Tattler • Wandering Tattler - Wandering Tattler • Spotted Redshank - Spotted Redshank • Greater Yellowlegs - Greater Yellowlegs • Common Greenshank - Common Greenshank • Willet - Willet • Lesser Yellowlegs - Lesser Yellowlegs • Upland Sandpiper - Upland Sandpiper • Eskimo Curlew - New Zealand Plover • Whimbrel - Whimbrel • Long-billed Curlew - Long-billed Curlew • Black-tailed Godwit - Black-tailed Godwit • Hudsonian Godwit - Hudsonian Godwit • Bar-tailed Godwit - Bar-tailed Godwit • Marbled Godwit - Marbled Godwit • Ruddy Turnstone - Ruddy Turnstone • Black Turnstone - Black Turnstone • Surfbird - Surfbird • Red Knot - Red Knot • Sanderling - Sanderling • Semipalmated Sandpiper - Semipalmated Sandpiper • Western Sandpiper - Western Sandpiper • Least Sandpiper - Least Sandpiper • White-rumped Sandpiper - White-rumped Sandpiper • Pectoral Sandpiper - Pectoral Sandpiper • Purple Sandpiper - Purple Sandpiper • Rock Sandpiper - Rock Sandpiper • Dunlin - Dunlin • Curlew Sandpiper - Curlew Sandpiper • Stilt Sandpiper - Stilt Sandpiper • Buff-breasted Sandpiper - Willet • Short-billed Dowitcher - Short-billed Dowitcher • Long-billed Dowitcher - Long-billed Dowitcher • Wilson's Snipe - Wilson's Snipe • American Woodcock - American Woodcock • Wilson's Phalarope - Wilson's Phalarope • Red-necked Phalarope - Red-necked Phalarope • Red Phalarope - Red Phalarope • Laughing Gull - Laughing Gull • Franklin's Gull - Franklin's Gull • Little Gull - Little Gull • Black-headed Gull - Terek Sandpiper • Bonaparte's Gull - Bonaparte's Gull • Heermann's Gull - Black-billed Gull • Mew Gull - Mew Gull • Ring-billed Gull - Ring-billed Gull • California Gull - California Gull • Herring Gull - Herring Gull • Iceland Gull - Iceland Gull • Lesser Black-backed Gull - Lesser Black-backed Gull • Western Gull - Western Gull • Glaucous-winged Gull - Glaucous-winged Gull • Glaucous Gull - Glaucous Gull • Great Black-backed Gull - Great Black-backed Gull • Sabine’s Gull - Sabine's Gull • Black-legged Kittiwake - Black-legged Kittiwake • Red-legged Kittiwake - Red-legged Kittiwake • Ross’s Gull - Ross's Gull • Ivory Gull - Ivory Gull • Brown Noddy - Brown Noddy • Sooty Tern - Sooty Swift • Least Tern - Least Tern • Gull-billed Tern - Gull-billed Tern • Caspian Tern - Caspian Tern • Black Tern - Black Tern • Roseate Tern - Roseate Tern • Common Tern - Common Tern • Arctic Tern - Arctic Tern • Forster's Tern - Forster's Tern • Snowy-crowned Tern - Snowy-crowned Tern • Royal Tern - Royal Tern • Sandwich Tern - Sandwich Tern • Black Skimmer - Black Skimmer • Pomarine Jaeger - Pomarine Skua • Parasitic Jaeger - Parasitic Jaeger • Long-tailed Jaeger - Long-tailed Jaeger • Dovekie - Little Auk • Common Murre - Common Murre • Thick-billed Murre - Thick-billed Murre • Razorbill - Razorbill • Great Auk - • Black Guillemot - Black Guillemot • Pigeon Guillemot - Pigeon Guillemot • Marbled Murrelet - Marbled Murrelet • Xantus's Murrelet - Xantus's Murrelet • Ancient Murrelet - Ancient Murrelet • Cassin's Auklet - Cassin's Auklet • Parakeet Auklet - Parakeet Auklet • Least Auklet - Least Auklet • Whiskered Auklet - Whiskered Auklet • Crested Auklet - Crested Auklet • Rhinoceros Auklet - Rhinoceros Auklet • Atlantic Puffin - Atlantic Puffin • Horned Puffin - Horned Puffin • Tufted Puffin - Tufted Puffin • Rock Pigeon - Common Pigeon • Scaled Pigeon - Scaled Pigeon • Scaly-naped Pigeon - Scaly-naped Pigeon • White-crowned Pigeon - White-crowned Pigeon • Plain Pigeon - Plain Pigeon • Band-tailed Pigeon - Band-tailed Pigeon • Ring-tailed Pigeon - Ring-tailed Pigeon • White-winged Dove - White-winged Dove • Zenaida Dove - Zenaida Dove • Mourning Dove - Mourning Dove • Socorro Dove - Socorro Dove • Passenger Pigeon - • Inca Dove - Inca Dove • Common Ground-Dove - Common Ground Dove • Blue Ground-Dove - Blue Ground Dove • White-tipped Dove - White-tipped Dove • Caribbean Dove - Caribbean Dove • Key West Quail-Dove - Key West Quail-Dove • Ruddy Quail-Dove - Ruddy Quail-Dove • Blue-headed Quail-Dove - Blue-headed Quail-Dove • Carolina Parakeet • Olive-throated Parakeet - Jamaican Parakeet • Orange-fronted Parakeet - Orange-fronted Parakeet • Military Macaw - Military Macaw • Scarlet Macaw - Scarlet Macaw • Thick-billed Parrot - Thick-billed Parrot • White-fronted Parrot - White-fronted Amazon • Yellow-lored Parrot - Yucatan Amazon • Cuban Parrot - Cuban Amazon • Red-crowned Parrot - Red-crowned Amazon • Red-lored Parrot - Red-lored Amazon • Mealy Parrot - Mealy Amazon • Yellow-headed Parrot - Yellow-headed Amazon • Yellow-crowned Parrot - Yellow-crowned Amazon • Squirrel Cuckoo - Squirrel Cuckoo • Yellow-billed Cuckoo - Yellow-billed Cuckoo • Mangrove Cuckoo - Mangrove Cuckoo • Black-billed Cuckoo - Black-billed Cuckoo • Great Lizard-Cuckoo - Great Lizard Cuckoo • Lesser Ground-Cuckoo - Lesser Ground Cuckoo	• Greater Roadrunner - Greater Roadrunner • Smooth-billed Ani - Smooth-billed Ani • Groove-billed Ani - Groove-billed Ani • Barn Owl - Barn Owl • Flammulated Owl - Flammulated Owl • Western Screech-Owl - Western Screech Owl • Eastern Screech-Owl - Eastern Screech Owl • Whiskered Screech-Owl - Whiskered Screech Owl • Vermiculated Screech-Owl - Vermiculated Screech Owl • Great Horned Owl - Great Horned Owl • Snowy Owl - Snowy Owl • Northern Hawk Owl - Northern Hawk-Owl • Northern Pygmy-Owl - Northern Pygmy Owl • Cuban Pygmy-Owl - Cuban Pygmy Owl • Elf Owl - Elf Owl • Burrowing Owl - Burrowing Owl • Little Owl - Little Owl • Mottled Owl - Mottled Owl • Spotted Owl - Spotted Owl • Barred Owl - Yellow-crowned Barbet • Great Gray Owl - Great Grey Owl • Long-eared Owl - Long-eared Owl • Stygian Owl - Stygian Owl • Short-eared Owl - Short-eared Owl • Boreal Owl - Boreal Owl • Northern Saw-whet Owl - Northern Saw-whet Owl • Lesser Nighthawk - Anthony's Nightjar • Common Nighthawk - Common Nighthawk • Common Poorwill - Common Poorwill • Chuck-will's-widow - Sunda Coucal • Buff-collared Nightjar - Buff-collared Nightjar • Whip-poor-will - Whip-poor-will • Chimney Swift - Chimney Swift • Vaux's Swift - Vaux's Swift • White-throated Swift - White-throated Swift • Black-throated Mango - Black-throated Mango • Jamaican Mango - Jamaican Mango • Cuban Emerald - Cuban Emerald • Broad-billed Hummingbird - Broad-billed Hummingbird • White-eared Hummingbird - White-eared Hummingbird • Cinnamon Hummingbird - Cinnamon Hummingbird • Blue-throated Hummingbird - Blue-throated Mountaingem • Ruby-throated Hummingbird - Ruby-throated Hummingbird • Anna's Hummingbird - Anna's Hummingbird • Costa's Hummingbird - Costa's Hummingbird • Bumblebee Hummingbird - Bumblebee Hummingbird • Broad-tailed Hummingbird - Broad-tailed Hummingbird • Rufous Hummingbird - Rufous Hummingbird • Allen's Hummingbird - Allen's Hummingbird • Cuban Trogon - Cuban Trogon • Hispaniolan Trogon - Hispaniolan Trogon • Mountain Trogon - Mountain Trogon • Resplendent Quetzal - Resplendent Quetzal • Blue-crowned Motmot - Blue-crowned Motmot • Turquoise-browed Motmot - Turquoise-browed Motmot • Ringed Kingfisher - Ringed Kingfisher • Belted Kingfisher - Belted Kingfisher • Emerald Toucanet - Emerald Toucanet • Lewis's Woodpecker - Lewis's Woodpecker • Red-headed Woodpecker - Red-headed Woodpecker • Acorn Woodpecker - Acorn Woodpecker • Jamaican Woodpecker - Jamaican Woodpecker • Golden-cheeked Woodpecker - Golden-cheeked Woodpecker • Gila Woodpecker - Gila Woodpecker • Golden-Fronted Woodpecker - Golden-fronted Woodpecker • Red-bellied Woodpecker - Red-bellied Woodpecker • West Indian Woodpecker - West Indian Woodpecker • Williamson's Sapsucker - Williamson's Sapsucker • Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - Yellow-bellied Sapsucker • Red-breasted Sapsucker - Red-breasted Sapsucker • Cuban Green Woodpecker - Cuban Green Woodpecker • Ladder-backed Woodpecker - Ladder-backed Woodpecker • Downy Woodpecker - Downy Woodpecker • Hairy Woodpecker - Hairy Woodpecker • Red-cockaded Woodpecker - Red-cockaded Woodpecker • White-headed Woodpecker - White-headed Woodpecker • American Three-toed Woodpecker - American Three-toed Woodpecker • Black-backed Woodpecker - Black-backed Woodpecker • Northern Flicker - Northern Flicker • Chestnut-colored Woodpecker - Chestnut-colored Woodpecker • Lineated Woodpecker - Lineated Woodcreeper • Pileated Woodpecker - Pileated Woodpecker • Ivory-billed Woodpecker - Ivory-billed Woodpecker • Imperial Woodpecker - Imperial Woodpecker • Olive-sided Flycatcher - Olive-sided Flycatcher • Western Wood-Pewee - Western Wood Pewee • Eastern Wood-Pewee - Eastern Wood Pewee • Yellow-bellied Flycatcher - Yellow-bellied Flycatcher • Acadian Flycatcher - Acadian Flycatcher • Willow Flycatcher - Willow Flycatcher • Least Flycatcher - Least Flycatcher • Black Phoebe - Black Phoebe • Eastern Phoebe - Eastern Phoebe • Say's Phoebe - Say's Phoebe • Vermilion Flycatcher - Vermilion Flycatcher • Dusky-capped Flycatcher - Dusky-capped Flycatcher • Great Crested Flycatcher - Great Crested Flycatcher • Stolid Flycatcher - Stolid Flycatcher • Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher - Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher • Tropical Kingbird - Tropical Kingbird • Cassin's Kingbird - Cassin's Kingbird • Western Kingbird - Western Kingbird • Eastern Kingbird - Eastern Kingbird • Gray Kingbird - Grey Kingbird • Loggerhead Kingbird - Loggerhead Kingbird • Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - Scissor-tailed Flycatcher • Fork-tailed Flycatcher - Grey-capped Tyrannulet • Rose-throated Becard - Rose-throated Becard • Lovely Cotinga - Lovely Cotinga • Loggerhead Shrike - Loggerhead Shrike • Northern Shrike - Great Grey Shrike • White-eyed Vireo - White-eyed Vireo • Bell's Vireo - Morningbird • Black-capped Vireo - Black-capped Vireo • Yellow-throated Vireo - Yellow-throated Vireo • Blue-headed Vireo - Blue-headed Vireo • Warbling Vireo - Warbling Vireo • Red-eyed Vireo - Red-eyed Vireo • Gray Jay - Grey Jay • Steller's Jay - Steller's Jay • Blue Jay - Blue Jay • Black-throated Magpie-Jay - Black-throated Magpie-Jay • Green Jay - Green Jay • Florida Scrub-Jay - Florida Scrub Jay • Western Scrub-Jay - Western Scrub Jay • Mexican Jay - Mexican Jay • Pinyon Jay - Pinyon Jay • Clark's Nutcracker - Clark's Nutcracker • Black-billed Magpie - Black-billed Magpie • Yellow-billed Magpie - Yellow-billed Magpie • American Crow - American Crow • Northwestern Crow - Northwestern Crow • Palm Crow - Hispaniolan Palm Crow • Cuban Crow - Cuban Crow • White-necked Crow - White-necked Crow • Fish Crow - Fish Crow • Chihuahuan Raven - Chihuahuan Raven • Common Raven - Northern Raven • Horned Lark - Horned Lark • Purple Martin - Purple Martin • Tree Swallow - Tree Swallow • Violet-green Swallow - Violet-green Swallow • Northern Rough-winged Swallow - Northern Rough-winged Swallow • Bank Swallow - Sand Martin • Cliff Swallow - American Cliff Swallow • Cave Swallow - Cave Swallow • Barn Swallow - Barn Swallow • Carolina Chickadee - Carolina Chickadee • Black-capped Chickadee - Black-capped Chickadee • Mountain Chickadee - Mountain Chickadee • Chestnut-backed Chickadee - Chestnut-backed Chickadee • Boreal Chickadee - Boreal Chickadee • Gray-headed Chickadee - Grey-headed Chickadee • Oak Titmouse - Oak Titmouse • Juniper Titmouse - Juniper Titmouse • Tufted Titmouse - Tufted Titmouse • Black-crested Titmouse - Black-crested Titmouse • Bushtit - American Bushtit • Red-breasted Nuthatch - Red-breasted Nuthatch • White-breasted Nuthatch - White-breasted Nuthatch • Pygmy Nuthatch - Pygmy Nuthatch • Brown-headed Nuthatch - Brown-headed Nuthatch • Brown Creeper - Brown Creeper • Band-backed Wren - Band-backed Wren • Cactus Wren - Cactus Wren • Rock Wren - Rock Wren • Canyon Wren - Canyon Wren • Carolina Wren - Carolina Wren • Bewick's Wren - Bewick's Wren • House Wren - House Wren • Winter Wren - Winter Wren • Sedge Wren - Sedge Wren • Marsh Wren - Marsh Wren • American Dipper - American Dipper • Golden-crowned Kinglet - Golden-crowned Kinglet • Ruby-crowned Kinglet - Ruby-crowned Kinglet • Arctic Warbler - Arctic Warbler • Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - Blue-grey Gnatcatcher • Northern Wheatear - Northern Wheatear • Eastern Bluebird - Eastern Bluebird • Western Bluebird - Western Bluebird • Mountain Bluebird - Mountain Bluebird • Townsend's Solitaire - Townsend's Solitaire • Veery - Veery • Gray-cheeked Thrush - Grey-cheeked Thrush • Swainson’s Thrush - Swainson's Thrush • Hermit Thrush - Hermit Thrush • Wood Thrush - Wood Thrush • White-eyed Thrush - White-eyed Thrush • American Robin - American Robin • Red-legged Thrush - Red-legged Thrush • Varied Thrush - Varied Thrush • Wrentit - Wrentit • Gray Catbird - Grey Catbird • Northern Mockingbird - Northern Mockingbird • Bahama Mockingbird - Bahama Mockingbird • Sage Thrasher - Sage Thrasher • Brown Thrasher - Brown Thrasher • Bendire's Thrasher - Bendire's Thrasher • Curve-billed Thrasher - Curve-billed Thrasher • California Thrasher - California Thrasher • Pearly-eyed Thrasher - Pearly-eyed Thrasher • European Starling - Common Starling • American Pipit - Buff-bellied Pipit • Sprague's Pipit - Sprague's Pipit • Bohemian Waxwing - Bohemian Waxwing • Cedar Waxwing - Cedar Waxwing • Phainopepla - Phainopepla • Bachman’s Warbler - Bachman's Warbler • Blue-winged Warbler - Blue-winged Warbler • Golden-winged Warbler - Golden-winged Warbler • Tennessee Warbler - Tennessee Warbler • Orange-crowned Warbler - Orange-crowned Warbler • Nashville Warbler - Nashville Warbler • Northern Parula - Northern Parula • Yellow Warbler - American Yellow Warbler • Chestnut-sided Warbler - Chestnut-sided Warbler • Magnolia Warbler - Magnolia Warbler • Cape May Warbler - Cape May Warbler • Black-throated Blue Warbler - Black-throated Blue Warbler • Yellow-rumped Warbler - Yellow-rumped Warbler • Black-throated Gray Warbler - Black-throated Grey Warbler • Black-throated Green Warbler - Black-throated Green Warbler • Townsend's Warbler - Townsend's Warbler • Hermit Warbler - Hermit Warbler • Blackburnian Warbler - Blackburnian Warbler • Yellow-throated Warbler - Yellow-throated Warbler • Pine Warbler - Pine Warbler • Prairie Warbler - Prairie Warbler • Palm Warbler - Palm Warbler • Bay-breasted Warbler - Bay-breasted Warbler • Blackpoll Warbler - Blackpoll Warbler • Cerulean Warbler - Cerulean Warbler • Black-and-white Warbler - Black-and-white Warbler • American Redstart - American Redstart • Prothonotary Warbler - Prothonotary Warbler • Worm-eating Warbler - Worm-eating Warbler • Swainson’s Warbler - Swainson's Warbler • Ovenbird - Ovenbird • Northern Waterthrush - Northern Waterthrush • Louisiana Waterthrush - Louisiana Waterthrush • Kentucky Warbler - Kentucky Warbler • Connecticut Warbler - Connecticut Warbler • Mourning Warbler - Mourning Warbler • MacGillivray’s Warbler - MacGillivray's Warbler • Common Yellowthroat - Common Yellowthroat • Hooded Warbler - Hooded Warbler • Wilson's Warbler - Wilson's Warbler • Canada Warbler - Canada Warbler • Red Warbler - Red Warbler • Yellow-breasted Chat - Yellow-breasted Chat • Bananaquit - Bananaquit • Hepatic Tanager - Hepatic Tanager • Summer Tanager - Summer Tanager • Scarlet Tanager - Scarlet Tanager • Western Tanager - Western Tanager • Western Spindalis - Western Spindalis • Palm Tanager - Palm Tanager • Red-legged Honeycreeper - Red-legged Honeycreeper • Cuban Bullfinch - Cuban Bullfinch • Black-faced Grassquit - Black-faced Grassquit • Greater Antillean Bullfinch - Greater Antillean Bullfinch • Green-tailed Towhee - Green-tailed Towhee • Spotted Towhee - Spotted Towhee • Eastern Towhee - Eastern Towhee • Canyon Towhee - Canyon Towhee • Cassin's Sparrow - Cassin's Sparrow • Bachman’s Sparrow - Bachman's Sparrow • American Tree Sparrow - American Tree Sparrow • Chipping Sparrow - Chipping Sparrow • Clay-colored Sparrow - Clay-colored Sparrow • Field Sparrow - Field Sparrow • Black-chinned Sparrow - Black-chinned Sparrow • Vesper Sparrow - Vesper Sparrow • Lark Sparrow - Lark Sparrow • Black-throated Sparrow - Black-throated Sparrow • Sage Sparrow - Sage Sparrow • Lark Bunting - Lark Bunting • Savannah Sparrow - Savannah Sparrow • Grasshopper Sparrow - Grasshopper Sparrow • Henslow’s Sparrow - Henslow's Sparrow • Le Conte's Sparrow - Le Conte's Sparrow • Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow - Saltmarsh Sparrow • Seaside Sparrow - Seaside Sparrow • Fox Sparrow - Fox Sparrow • Song Sparrow - Song Sparrow • Lincoln's Sparrow - Lincoln's Sparrow • Swamp Sparrow - Swamp Sparrow • Rufous-collared Sparrow - American Yellow Warbler • White-throated Sparrow - White-throated Sparrow • Harris's Sparrow - Harris's Sparrow • White-crowned Sparrow - White-crowned Sparrow • Golden-crowned Sparrow - Golden-crowned Sparrow • Dark-eyed Junco - Dark-eyed Junco • Yellow-eyed Junco - Yellow-eyed Junco • McCown's Longspur - McCown's Longspur • Lapland Longspur - Lapland Longspur • Smith’s Longspur - Smith's Longspur • Chestnut-collared Longspur - Chestnut-collared Longspur • Snow Bunting - Snow Bunting • Northern Cardinal - Northern Cardinal • Pyrrhuloxia - Pyrrhuloxia • Rose-breasted Grosbeak - Rose-breasted Grosbeak • Black-headed Grosbeak - Black-headed Grosbeak • Blue Bunting - Blue Bunting • Blue Grosbeak - Blue Grosbeak • Lazuli Bunting - Lazuli Bunting • Indigo Bunting - Indigo Bunting • Painted Bunting - Painted Bunting • Dickcissel - Dickcissel • Bobolink - Bobolink • Red-winged Blackbird - Red-winged Blackbird • Tricolored Blackbird - Tricolored Blackbird • Eastern Meadowlark - Eastern Meadowlark • Western Meadowlark - Western Meadowlark • Yellow-headed Blackbird - Yellow-headed Blackbird • Cuban Blackbird - Cuban Blackbird • Rusty Blackbird - Rusty Blackbird • Brewer's Blackbird - Brewer's Blackbird • Common Grackle - Common Grackle • Boat-tailed Grackle - Boat-tailed Grackle • Great-tailed Grackle - Great-tailed Grackle • Slender-billed Grackle - Slender-billed Grackle • Greater Antillean Grackle - Greater Antillean Grackle • Brown-headed Cowbird - Brown-headed Cowbird • Giant Cowbird - Giant Cowbird • Black-cowled Oriole - Black-cowled Oriole • Orchard Oriole - Orchard Oriole • Hooded Oriole - Hooded Oriole • Troupial - Venezuelan Troupial • Bullock's Oriole - Bullock's Oriole • Baltimore Oriole - Baltimore Oriole • Yellow-winged Cacique - Mexican Cacique • Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch - Grey-crowned Rosy Finch • Pine Grosbeak - Pine Grosbeak • Purple Finch - Purple Finch • House Finch - House Finch • Red Crossbill - Red Crossbill • White-winged Crossbill - Two-barred Crossbill • Common Redpoll - Common Redpoll • Hoary Redpoll - Arctic Redpoll • Pine Siskin - Pine Siskin • Black-headed Siskin - Black-headed Siskin • Black-chinned Siskin - Black-chinned Siskin • Lesser Goldfinch - Lesser Goldfinch • American Goldfinch - American Goldfinch • Evening Grosbeak - Evening Grosbeak • House Sparrow - House Sparrow Not included in this list are additional items of record, including specifics ... tribal language well known in limited instances, importances for bird effigy recognitions, bird-motif garments of an especial interest, generic records mentioning ducks and wild geese, diminutive snipe and a bunch of vague sightings written in a limited manner.

This compilation includes one species not given in the North American avifauna, but included with the broader, continental view of the continental birdlist. The internationally-based does, however, ignore several prominent and unforgettable species so essential during the first history of the United States. Gaudy and special Carolina Parakeets and Passenger Pigeons in seemingly endless flights cannot be ignored. History for the iconic Great Auk is also part of the bird records, denoted by the American list, but removed from the international version of taxonomy consideration. An occurrence cannot be deleted from the history for a nation's ornithology, despite an editorial decision.

Not included in the shown list are additional items of record, which includes additional topics ... tribal language which was well known in limited instances, bird effigy and bird-motif garments which are an especial interest, and generic records mentioning ducks and geese, the wild goose, diminutive snipe and other vague sightings.

This list is subject to change based on further review and editing of information taken from a wide variety of the publications perused to develop a thorough list of bird species for the continent of North America.

There are innumerable stories based on the details. Certain groups of details - consider the chilling words of so many Arctic voyages - and elsewhere reminiscences for endless forays of the winged ones which were captured of the moment ... a bit retained in written history, available at the library.

Vivid History of Birds Provided by Arctic Voyages in the 1850s

During the Arctic winter of 160 years ago these days, a daily saga was underway among the icy lands of the great north. An expedition led by Sir John Franklin - those remaining anyway - were striving to survive the endless cold. Though their leader and others had already been left behind, the remaining men were searching for refuge and survival.

Constant was the cold and ice during survival for about 130 British Navy crews on an expedition to search for the fabled northwest passage.

There was a constant history of excursions, starting with Davis in 1585, then Hudson around 1610. The United Kingdom relied on overseas explorations and territorial claims. In 1825-1827 was Sir John Franklin's second arctic land expedition, with also the journal of Lieutenant George Peard. This was quickly followed by an 1829-1833 narrative by Sir John Ross during a residence ensconced at Felix Harbour. The ice-bound narrative by literary Captain George Back, on H.M.S. Terror, turning among the ice off Cape Comfort in 1836.

John Rae of the Hudson Bay Company went overland along north Hudson Bay in 1847, up to Committee Bay, on an exploration.

Sir Franklin knew the perils and constantly strove to contend with known problems of long-term survival in hostile conditions. The Royal Navy knew the supplies needed for an Arctic voyage where ice decided fate for visitors. The ships went up Lancaster Sound.

There was no further direct communication. At the home ports in northern Europe, nothing was heard from H.M.S. Erebus with H.M.S. Terror since both ships reached west Greenland in 1845.

Without any further communication with the Royal Navy, the concern turned to action to send out ships and men to search for the lost expedition.

Plans were set to conduct a search. The first among many got sail in 1848. Their orders were to search for remains of the two other H.M. ships.

The party went overland - led by Sir John Richardson - along the Arctic coast. Reports include the narrative of Captain Kellett. Scientific discovery was integral to the travelers. They talked about the people of the villages, even considering their language and providing a dictionary that comments on terms used for local birds.

Further effort was endeavoured by Lady Franklin - his wife Jane - as in April 1849, making a personal letter appeal to President Clayton, for United States government involved. She also made personal appeals to Sir John Ross of earlier Arctic voyages.

Lady Franklin's effort was foremost and urgent, and instrumental in continuing the search that brought a myriad of ships to the north polar seas.

The Board of Admirality was "induced to offer a reward of 20,00 l. sterling to any ship or ships, of any country, or to any exploring party whatever, which shall render efficient assistance to the missing ships, or their crews, or to any portion of them."

The variety of nautical craft sailed the way - several to beget being beset in a shifting panorama of bergs and floes of packed ice - continued with several government expeditions, as well as private excursions. A manner of efforts sallied forth from both sides of the north Atlantic.

• 1845-1851 narrative by Berthold Seemann of the voyage of H.M.S. Herald to Panama, lower California and the western Arctic
• 1850 narrative of William Parker Snow on the Arctic Branch Expedition
• 1850-1851 account by Captain Robert Maclure of the discovery of the north-west passage; includes narrative of H.M.S. Resolute, Capt. Kellett; mentions ducks, geese and swan as waterfowl present
• 1850-1851 journal by Elisha Kent Kane on the first Henry Grinnell Esq. funded expedition to the Arctic islands
• 1850-1851 journal by Lieutenant Sherard Osborn on H.M. steam-vessel Pioneer to Assistance Bay, under Captain Horatio T. Austin
• 1850-1851 journal of Peter C. Sutherland on a voyage with H.M. ships Lady Franklin and Sophia, in Baffin's Bay and Barrow Straits, under command of William Penny; includes reports by Alexander Stewart and Robert A. Goodsir

• 1850-1853 memoirs of Lieutenant Joseph Rene Bellot with H.M.S. Prince Albert about Batty Bay
• 1850-1854 diary of Johann Miertsching, Esquimaux interpreter, on H.M.S. Investigator, and other subsequent ships during an ordeal
• 1850-1854 narrative of Alexander Armstrong, surgeon and naturalist on H.M.S. Investigator to Baring's Island, Prince Albert Land and Victoria Strait
• 1851-1853 journal by Captain Richard Collinson with H.M.S. Enterprise at Beaufort Sea and Melville Sound
• 1852 summer by Commander E.A. Inglefield on the schooner Isabel to the eastern Polar basin; single mention of loon and sea-birds
• 1852-1854 journal of Rochfort Maguire at Point Plover on H.M.S. Plover; with T.E.L. Moore expedition to Point Barrow, 1850; Maguire boat expedition to Point Barrow in 1852; Charles Vernon toward Peard Bay, 1853; Dr. John Simpson Eskimo essay
• 1852-1854 narrative by Captain Sir Edward Belcher to the Arctic islands
• 1852-1854 with ship's master George F. McDougall on H.M.S. Resolute to Melville Island
• 1853-1854 overland of Dr. John Rae from Repulse Bay to Boothia; a source document for this expedition has not been located for review
• 1853-1855 journal by Elisha Kent Kane on the second Henry Grinnell funded voyage to the Arctic; beset at northwest Greenland
• 1854-1855 via boat with Isaac I. Hayes, M.D., party to Rensselaer Harbour and Booth Bay, northwest Greenland
• 1857-1859 narrative by Captain F.L. M'Clintock, on the yacht Fox, in Baffin Bay and Gulf of Boothia finding relics of the Franklin expedition

Lengthy narratives detail events for many days. Oftimes the scribe made an entry for each day. Sometimes the sheer survival meant several months were presented in a paragraph. An unknown number of working men that left Europe remained in the Arctic, their compass stilled, their bones sometimes gnawed by the gnarly wolves. Other relicts - including marker cairns with a message in the bottle - remained, and considered to a great extent by subsequent visitors.

Ordeal was the consistent theme. Frozen toes or fingers - noisy ice lolling about - Esquimaux escapades - burials - tempting seals - daily chills - etc. are among the common reminiscences by the men who scribed narratives under many conditions - balmy to horrific. There was especially a meteorological journal, to compare coldest temperatures, when it was 40o- or on a dubious day of distinction when 50o- and the thermometer mercury had already stopped.

Whether during a whirling compass for a few weeks - or months - sometimes during an overland travel of exploration to document efforts for the prime cause, local activity was denoted in the ship log, sometimes a personal diary to recollect daily events. The words are a treasure of bird-lore.

Arctic Birds

Birds were noted at a many newly designated place's shown, most carefully shown on the maps included with the expedition report. Geography was given on a deftly drawn and detail map useful for nautical purposes. Some maps might include a line to show the determined position on a particular date.

Because of the many voyages in search of the lost expedition, there is an especial history for Arctic birds during this period. Birds were commonly noted because of their value for a fresh pie on a cold wooden ship surrounded by dynamic ice. Overland forays during times of sterile navigation denoted other bird life. A great many little details about Arctic birds are within nearly each of these chronicles. Notations present the birds denoted during a dozen years among the northern lands.

The variety of species given among the narratives depends on the living status of the writer, and details vary from place to place. More than a hundred other locales are represented by the geography of locales in Nanavut and Northwest Territories provinces of Canada, as well as the western coast of Greenland, north from Cape Farewell.

Common Name	1848	1849	1850	1851	1852	1853	1854	1855	1857	1858	1859
Snow Goose	2	2	1	5	4	-	-	-	-	-	-
Brant	3	1	5	9	3	3	3	-	-	1	3
Goose	2	2	1	6	8	4	7	-	-	-	-
Trumpeter Swan	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Swan	-	1	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Tundra Swan	1	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
American Wigeon	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Duck	2	1	10	10	6	13	17	-	1	-	3
Teal	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Northern Shoveler	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Northern Pintail	-	1	1	1	2	-	-	-	-	-	-
Scaup	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Unidentified waterfowl	1	2	4	7	3	5	2	-	-	-	-
King Eider	1	1	1	5	2	5	3	-	-	-	1
Common Eider	1	2	10	9	6	-	4	-	1	1	-
Eider	1	-	6	5	2	3	6	2	-	1	-
Harlequin Duck	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Surf Scoter	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-
Long-tailed Duck	2	1	4	3	2	4	4	-	-	-	1
Willow Ptarmigan	-	-	1	3	6	-	1	-	-	1	4
Rock Ptarmigan	-	-	1	4	3	-	1	-	-	3	4
Ptarmigan	-	-	7	31	18	13	12	3	1	5	-
Red-throated Loon	1	-	1	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	1
Arctic Loon	-	-	-	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	-
Loon	-	2	9	4	2	-	1	-	-	-	-
Common Loon	1	1	1	1	3	-	1	-	-	-	1
Northern Fulmar	-	-	6	-	4	1	3	-	-	-	-
Fulmar	-	-	2	1	-	-	-	-	-	2	1
Shearwater	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Wilson’s Storm-Petrel	-	-	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
American White Pelican	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Osprey	1	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Bald Eagle	2	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Gyrfalcon	-	1	-	2	-	-	1	-	-	-	-
Peregrine Falcon	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Falcon	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	-
Sandhill Crane	1	2	1	-	3	-	-	-	-	-	-
American Golden-Plover	-	-	-	1	1	-	-	-	-	-	-
Plover	-	-	-	1	1	2	-	-	-	-	-
Ruddy Turnstone	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Sanderling	-	-	3	1	1	-	1	-	-	-	-
Sandpiper	-	1	2	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Purple Sandpiper	-	-	2	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-
Shorebird	-	-	-	-	1	1	2	-	-	-	-
Phalarope	-	1	-	1	2	-	-	-	-	-	-
Red Phalarope	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-
Gull	-	2	2	9	5	2	7	-	-	2	2
Bonaparte's Gull	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Mew Gull	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Herring Gull	1	-	1	1	1	-	-	-	-	-	1
Glaucous Gull	-	-	7	7	3	3	7	-	-	1	-
Sabine's Gull	1	-	-	4	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Black-legged Kittiwake	-	-	3	3	3	2	1	1	-	-	-
Ivory Gull	1	-	4	4	-	-	4	-	-	1	-
Caspian Tern	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Black Tern	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Tern	1	-	-	1	1	-	-	-	-	1	-
Arctic Tern	1	1	2	2	-	-	4	-	-	-	-
Jaeger	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Parasitic Jaeger	-	-	1	-	1	-	-	-	-	1	-
Dovekie	-	-	13	5	4	-	1	2	-	2	-
Murre	-	-	5	3	4	-	-	1	-	3	-
Thick-billed Murre	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	1	-
Black Guillemot	-	-	4	7	4	1	7	-	1	4	1
Guillemot	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Crested Auklet	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Atlantic Puffin	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Owl	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Snowy Owl	1	-	-	5	3	1	1	1	-	1	2
Belted Kingfisher	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Northern Flicker	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
American Crow	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Common Raven	-	1	5	9	4	2	5	1	2	2	-
Horned Lark	1	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Northern Rough-winged Swallow	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Bank Swallow	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Cliff Swallow	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
White-crowned Sparrow	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Dark-eyed Junco	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Lapland Longspur	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Snow Bunting	-	-	9	4	6	1	1	-	-	1	-
Rusty Blackbird	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Common Redpoll	-	-	1	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	-
Unidentified birds	-	-	2	-	1	3	5	-	-	-	1
Bird effigy	-	-	1	-	-	2	1	-	-	-	-
Bird-motif garment	-	-	-	-	-	-	7	-	-	-	-

More than sixty recognized species are represented in this list that compiles the distinct voyages in a cooperative manner to show how the bunch are such a distinctive era of bird history for North America.

Bird Bolas

Plover Point was the place where a ship of a similar name spent plenty of time. H.M.S. Plover arrived in September 1852, near Noo-Wook, at what foreign visitors called Point Barrow. The ship was beset at the point, while to the east where the Plover Islands. During a residence during two winters - well described by Captain Rochfort Maguire - there was even a child named in recognition of the boat men. The entry is for December 14, 1852: "... There was only one other man on board - whose wife has been lately confined. We had jested with him some time ago about calling the infant Plover, or as he called it Labba, and on enquiry today he declared that to be the babes name ..."

Spring migration brought an interesting description of bolas being used to down birds for easy capture.

Friday May 20th ... The Natives watch the direction the birds take and run to the nearest point they expect them to pass over, and crouch in the snow until they are passing over, when they dexterously throw their trap to entangle them - and seldom fail to bring one down - The instrument used is common all along the coast and both sides of Bherings straits, and consists of eight or ten pieces of ivory, slung by as many cords nearly a yard long, all of which are united in the hand, so that when thrown the balls spread out and turn over one or more birds in the flock, bringing them to the ground -"

During an afternoon trip to the village, Dr. Hull: "saw some boys practising with the balls used to bring down birds on the wing at two pieces of whale bone tied together in the form of a cross which then thrown forwards came back towards the thrower something in the way of the Australians Boomerang - "

As migration advanced, many of the adult natives were using a bola on May 28th, described in the narrative by Maguire:

"... the ducks were found to be coming past in such numbers, the natives would not leave, and our gentlemen amused themselves shooting, & produced something like 11 from each gun.
"Doctor S gives the following account of this day - I killed ten at the expense of some twenty four charges no great sportsmanlike proceeding, but as my station was behind the natives not to interfere with them many of the shots were more distant than rigid economy of Ammunition would justify. It was a novel sight to see 200 (counted 183) people all ranged in line with balls attached to string, throwing them up at the flocks of birds as they came on - and at each 3-4 to 15 might be seen dropping. Each flight as they received the unexpected assault would rise higher waver & fly along the line entire & there reform in line to proceed on their journey. The flocks became less numerous towards 5 P.M. and many of the Natives left their station on the beach to the West of the Village. I think that not less than 600 that is twelve to each hut were taken by the Natives. Placed as they were twenty guns from the Ship ought to have brought home an equal number in the course of the day which would make one gun to five men with the Native means."

Bird-motif Garments

Maguire also recognized the local fashionable men used pieces or parts of birds as adornment, obviously utilizing feathered portions of a carcass, with the first portion probably eaten as part of a stew, or heaved in a food cache for winter.

In June 1854, Captain Maguire noted this attribute for the locals at Nuvuk, a tribal community village at Point Barrow ...

• one or two had on white duck trowsers;
• woman's coat; for common use and among the poorer people, the inner one is made of bird skins;
• usual belt made of the smaller wing feathers of ducks, after the plumes are taken off; partly sewed and partly woven with plaited cords of sinew; some have checkered appearance produced by alternate rows of black and white feathers; and
• dressed bird skins are used in making coats.

As Isaac I. Hayes figured how to survive above the polar circle during his post-autumn ordeal in 1854, he wrote enough to mention bird-motif garments worn by leaders for the local clans of the residents at Greenland. The doctor's small bunch of guys was struggling along on the eastern shore of Baffin's Bay in September, then at Wanderer's House, Booth Bay for a time of tribulations and perceived threats.

"We were surprised about noon by the appearance of an Esquimau. He came up the beach, and was as much astonished as ourselves. We recognized him as one of those who were at the ship last winter. His name was Amalatok. After exchanging salutations, he seated himself upon a rock with a cool dignity quite characteristic of his people, and began to talk in a rapid and animated manner. He was dressed in a coat made of bird-skins, feathers turned inward; bear-skin pantaloons, hair outward; tanned seal-skin boots, and dog-skin stockings. He told us he lived on the eastern side of the island;"

During mid-October, there were unexpected arrivals at the shelter.

"They were a most un-human looking pair. Everything on and about them told of the battle they had had with the elements. From head to foot they were invested in a coat of ice and snow. Shapeless lumps of whiteness that they were, they reminded me of the snow-kings I used to make when a boy, which, but for their lack of motion, would have been to all appearance quite as human as our visitors. Their long, heavy, fox-skin coats, reaching nearly to the knees, and surmounted by a hood, covering, like a round lump, all of the head but the face, the bear-skin pantaloons and boots and mittens, were saturated with snow. Their long, black hair, which fell from beneath their hoods over their eyes and cheeks; their eyelashes; the few hairs which grew upon their chins; the rim of fur around their faces, were sparkling with white frost, - the frozen moisture of their breath. Each carried in his right hand a whip, and in his left a lump of frozen meat and blubber. The meat was thrown upon the floor; and, without waiting for an invitation, they stuck their whipstocks under the rafters' and pulling off their mittens and outer garments, hung them thereon. Underneath these frosty coats they wore a shirt of bird-skins.

Also notable for this narrative is the mention of frozen birds being used as food during the winter, months after being cached during the breeding season. Hayes especially mentioned little auks taken at Northumberland Island, seen when displayed as a frozen, foot square cube extracted to provide food during winter harshness.

Arctic Bird History

Many Arctic voyages that searched for the Franklin expedition have more than 800 bird-related records. Some places well known with this comprehensive natural history based on narrative history, include:

Point Plover - 57 records; Bay of God's Mercy - 45; Rensselaer Harbor - 37; Batty Bay - 36; Princess Royal Islands - 31; Fort Confidence - 20; Cape Hotham - 18; Assistance Harbour - 16; Berry Island - 16; Cape York - 16; Melville Bay - 16; Griffith's Island - 16; Bear Island Point - 15; and, Port Kennedy - 15.

Birds most commonly noted were the Ptarmigan, generic duck, eider and brent goose, croaking ravens, the Black Guillemot which was designated as a dovekie, burgomasters and other interesting gull such as the Ivory Gull, little auks better known as Dovekies, notable waterfowl of special value winging along, the regular snow bunting as a harbinger of seasonal change, and types of long-tailed duck. They did not forget to record a number of times, observations of the mollemauk, spelled in several manners depending on the author's linguist view.

Conclusion

Some notes found in a cairn indiciated the Franklin ships spent their first winter, 1845-1846 at Beechey Island, where three graves were located. The ships were abandoned in April 1848 - 24 men were already dead - the remainder moved southward through Peel Strait, then Franklin Strait, even down to the Back River, hoping to find survival at a fur trade post. All perished. Many relics were bought by a traveling party from the Fox, which also discovered two skeletons in a boat on King William Island. Sir John Franklin was credited - by official proclamation - with discovering the Northwest Passage. The fate of the expedition was sealed with the message given by the relicts located in 1859.

Naturistic Sketches of Youthful Enthusiasm

Evoked among some sketched views is the young biologist, show in a scene reminiscent of many a moment for various kid's experiencing some outdoors time.

Scenes are shown directly by Jack Sampson - the Sandhills Draughtsman - in an evocative charcoal-media sketch of realities long since past throughout the modern millenium.

The youngster looks closely at a part of the outdoors, is this case a turtle of certain distinction ... a place with some of nature's wild.

Young Biologist. 2001.

Another scene is an especial work of great accomplishment, shows kids capturing drops of falling rain, while the three walk along their way. There is the intimate reality of the fresh moisture direct from the sky, in the apparent effort, so well rendered by Mr. Sampson, a celebrated resident of western Nebraska.

Tasting Raindrops. 2001.

These moments are timeless, yet more seemingly remote during present times.

Images used with artist's permission.

Love Library Essential for Bird History Research

Material available at a local university library made possible a wide variety of research into natural history of birds in North America prior to the mid-1850s.

During the past months, numerous volumes which are primary-source narratives were found and reviewed among the variety of items available at Love Library, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, which made the task possible. Materials included regular books, books that could not be checked out from the shelves, microfilm, old books in Special Collections, looked through atop a brown table - with a ready source of sharp pencils, and a sharpener if needed - in their reading room, online publications printable with downloaded in quick time PDFs of many megabytes, and borrowed items retrieved with certain time by Inter-Library Loan communications.

During the weeks of checkout, review and return, with some copies most times, there were times - more than twice - when something of a volume management was needed while at the limit on books checked out.

Interlibrary loan provided a number of distinct volumes for 1800-1850s history. Most helpful was Brian O'Grady, a library technician, with this service area.

As a recognized research library, there are a variety of services to find something. O'Grady mentioned databases, email, internet, and letters are among the means used to find a citation, notably for campus undergraduate students and faculty. Volumes housed at the LDRF facility - an old book building - on East Campus, are also processed through ILL, using a handy request-button on the library card-catalog search page.

"I enjoy finding unusual references on a wide variety of topics," said O'Grady - informally dubbed a "supervisor of borrowing monographs" - "especially unusual or unique books, articles, rare papers, letters or reports." About 20,000 requests are handled each year. Local libraries refer people to UNL, and with the internet, others have discovered the holdings at Love Library, and may borrow a book.

Special Collections had some specially housed books from an historic era following Lewis and Clark and other great expeditions along the twisted Missouri River. A bunch of volumes compiled by former historian of distinction, Reuben Gold Thwaites, provided the rough view for bird records on the Prince Maximilian of Wied expedition. It's quite different to read snippets, but browsing the entire work, bound and presented in a manner known 150 years ago, is an essence of research using source material written.

Looking at the original narratives - the intimate chronicles - is how to scribe details on a vast variety distinctive bird records from so many places of those times.

More than a dozen of the source publications were readily found, to investigate the Arctic voyages, mariners searching for the lost expedition of Sir John Franklin. The trio of resultant sources were: 1) books on the shelves - some encased in a sturdy box due to their aged condition, while still readable in a careful page-turning manner; 2) microfilm on the reader; and 3) fragile books in Special Collections. Vivid details from these sources dramatically evoke a most interesting era of bird history ... well illustrated in the stylistic manner of those men on a ship, keeping on among relentless ice and cold.

The University of Nebraska was established in 1869. During this era, following a burst of mid-century explorations, for example, was a handy time to acquire recent reports of topographic engineers, and that variety of reports from the Arctic voyages. These were finely published and oft-times lavishly illustrated, each a fine addition to the historic library, while now they might be shelved in the back stacks with other representatives of the old Dewey decimal system. Main sections visited for pertinent topics were the Es and Fs call numbers, with an occasional foray in the low-ceiling Q stacks for Audubon information, or other focus books within the ornithology subject.

This study of bird history was certainly enriched with results which indicate the prime importance and value of the Love Library reference collection, ready for research.