Lucas, J.D. 1972 Lesser Goldfinch Carduelis psaltria National Audubon Society Sabal Palm Grove Sanctuary, 7 miles SE intersection of U.S. Highways 77 & 281 in Brownsville, Cameron Co. Texas. Elevation 25 feet. April 26 For the first time in eight summer trips to the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas, I found Lesser Goldfinches. And they are present in numbers. I found 14 birds around the Headquarters building & parking lot, plus five more on trails near the E. side of the property. The only checklist I have handy is from Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, which, like this year, borders the Rio Grande, but upstream, S. of Brownsville, Texas. This list indicates that Lesser Goldfinches are seen at intervals of 2-5 years in winter. Now are not any breeding season records, based on the checklist and on asking the refuge manager a few years ago. I saw 8 smaller birds. They all appeared to have a solidly black, glossy dorsal coloration. I asked for permission to collect specimens, and surprisingly was not denied immediately, but when I explained my sampling scheme, I was turned down. The sanctuary manager is Rose Farmer. She kindly went through her records to confirm her recollection of proven nesting in 1971. She found a nest in a tree just SW of the Headquarters on June 28, 1971. The notes did not record contents, for she recalls meeting being fed on that date. She attributes the appearance and return of Lesser Goldfinches to altered agricultural practices. It seems the fields N & E of the Sanctuary have been grown to millet the last couple years. This year apparently, there have been two aborted nesting efforts. One nest was completed behind the Headquarters building, but was abandoned for reasons unknown. Another was started about 50 yards S. of Headquarters but was dismantled as it neared completion. It was uncertain whether the nesting material was being stolen, or the pair reassessing the nest elsewhere.