With this report, Bill Pranty becomes the new State Compiler of the FOS Field Observations Committee. Jim Cox compiled the first 10 reports, and he deserves our thanks for his dedication to the project. This report was prepared with the gracious assistance of Rich Paul, the Summer Editor for American Birds. Information provided by Bruce Anderson, and Florida Bird Species: An Annotated List (Robertson and Woolfenden 1992) was most helpful in determining the status of selected species. Peter Merritt and Glen Woolfenden proofread the manuscript and contributed helpful advice. Fred Lohrer supplied the weather data from the National Climatic Data Center.
Much has been written and said about duplication of reports in the Florida Field Naturalist and American Birds, a topic discussed at length by the FOS Board of Directors at the Fall 1992 meeting in Lakeland. The Board urged that closer communication with the American Birds Seasonal Editors be maintained. The Board also suggested that observers send their reports to both journals, rather than to one or the other, as has frequently occurred in the past. The Board agreed that the reports are not competitive, as they are written and compiled differently, and little overlap in readership exists between the two journals.
Some of the suggestions made by the FOS Board have resulted in changes to this report. The major change is the inclusion of only June and July observations in the Summer Report. Observations from August will now be included in the Fall Report. This change was made primarily to facilitate exchange of information with American Birds, which includes August in its Fall seasonal report.
Above average rainfall for both June and July may be signaling an end to the drought conditions that have prevailed in the state for the past few years. Temperatures were also above normal statewide, with the southern mainland recording its fifth highest-ever mean temperature for July.
The increase in rainfall appears to have had a positive effect on wading bird breeding success, with over 22000 pairs nesting in the Everglades. Wood Storks had their best season at Corkscrew Swamp and in the Everglades in over a decade, but results farther north were mixed. In Tampa Bay, Reddish Egrets and Roseate Spoonbills both had excellent nesting success, and spoonbills nested inland for the first time since 1950.
In addition to a few seasonal rarities, a La Sagra's Flycatcher was reported from the Keys, and presumably the same male Bahama Mockingbird returned to Key West and again built a nest. Eurasian Collared-Doves continue to increase their range throughout the state, and Chimney Swifts again summered (and may have bred) in Dade County. Pioneering Blue Grosbeaks and Indigo Buntings were again found in southern Florida, and a male Painted Bunting summered in the eastern Panhandle. The only Shiny Cowbirds reported were in southern Florida, but House Finches appeared in three new locations, including two areas in the Peninsula.
Contributors: W. Howard Adams, Bruce Anderson, Lyn and Brooks Atherton, Ted Below, Maryanne Biggar, Paul Blair, Karen Brautcheck, Linda Bremer, K. Brugger, Mike Bunn, Dan Canterbury, Charlie Chase, Ruth Clark, Linda Cooper, Mort Cooper, Jim Cox, John and Linda Douglas, Jack Dozier, Robert Duncan, George Eliason, Doug Emkalns, Duncan Evered, Paul Fellers, Clarice and Don Ford, Dot Freeman, Red and Louise Gambill, Katie Gersher, Michael Hill, Rudy Howell, Gloria Hunter, Dean and Sally Jue, Robert Kelley, Susan and Tom Massey, Bonnie and Robert Mayer, Tony Menart, Gail Menk, Lyla Messick, Brian Millsap, Jimi Morris, Barbara Muschlitz, Robert Myers, Kris Nelson, Steve Nesbitt, Bruce Neville, Gertrude Oakman, John Ogden, Joe Ondrejko, Tom Palmer, Rich Paul, Peggy Powell, Bill Pranty, Joe Reinman, Rex Rowan, Rick Sawicki, P. William and Susan Smith, Sam Van Hook, Noel Wamer, James Weimer, Spencer Wise, Reuven Yosef.