X N O T H E R F I R S T F 0 R P. E. 1.! 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     OBSERVATIONS OF NESTING UPLAND dANDPIPERs 
     
     ON PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND 
     
    

    
     Qégggz June 25, 26, and 27, 1976. 
     
    

    
     LOCATION: st. Eleanor's, P. E. I. 
     
    
   
   
    
     OBSERVATIONS: All observations made by 
     
     three Observers. 
     
    
   
   
    
     June 25: one adult was seen on a five foot 
     
     fence post within 10 feet of a 
     
     travelled highway; the bird was 
     
     identified at this time at a dis— 
     
     tance of 15 feet. Eventually it 
     
     flew to more distant fence post. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     June 26: two adults and two chicks were observed at the exact same 
     
     location; the chicks were about one-half adult size; one 
     
     adult. preeumable the male, flew away and was not seen 
     
     again that day; the other remained within 50 feet of the 
     
     two chicks who were roaming around on the ground; apparently 
     
     they could not fly; photographs were taken. 
     
    
   
   
    
     June 27: two adults seen in exact same location; more photos taken. 
     
    
   
   
    
     No sound was heard from any of the birds at any time during any of the 
     
     observations. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The bird presumed to be the male spent most of the time sitting on a 
     
     fencepost whereas the one presumed to be the female spent some time on 
     
     fenceposts but an equal time on the ground in eight inch long grass 
     
     usually near the chicks. The presumed male would regularly fly in a 
     
     loo-yard diameter circle before aliahting on a different fencepost. 
     
     The fenceposts were 5 to 6 inches in diaueter--most being 5.5 inches. 
     
    
   
   
    
     TERRAIN: The birds spent most of their time in a field with 8-inch 
     
     Erase but occasionally wandered across the field with cut grass. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Ossunvzns: Alan Hollett. Roberta Gilchrist. Peter Gilchrist. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Hr. Hollett has been observing birds for about 12 years but only eight 
     
     months in Canada. mr. and Mrs. Gilchrist have been observing birds 
     
     for four years. primarily in Ontario. Mr. Gilchrist had observed an 
     
     Upland Sandpiper before. near Pickering Harsh outside of Toronto. 
     
     Peterson's Field Guide and Godfrey's "Birds of Canada" were employed 
     
     to assist in the identification. 
     
    
   
   
    
     lNQUIRIE : For further information contact Peter Gilchrist, 
     
     6 Glencairn Ayenue. Toronto. Ontario, utn lib 
     
    
   
   
    
     Mere than 50 other photographs are available for examination. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     GENERAL NOTES ON UPLAND SANDPIPERS 
     
    
   
   
    
     The Upland Sandpiper is a large streaked buffy-brown shorebird which is 
     
     smaller than a curlew or godwit and larger than a pectoral sandpiper. 
     
    

    
     It habitually perches on fenceposts and when alighting, holds the wings 
     
     extended high over the back for a few seconds before folding them in 
     
     place. This sandpiper. formerly known as the Upland Plover. has accord- 
     
     ing to Bent in Life History of North!Americang§horebirds "adopted the 
     
     haunts and many of;the’habits of the plovers". 
     
    
   
   
    
     Until the early 1900's, Upland Sandpipers were as numerous as meadow- 
     
     larks on the short—grass prairies of North America, and early settlers