198 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Feb. 



THE BIRDS OF OTTAWA. 



By C. W. G. Eifrig. 



(Continued from page 187). 



145. Corvus corax principalis, Northern Raven. A rare 

 resident, becoming common in the northern parts of the district 

 On the larger lakes there, e.g., Hawk and Green Lakes in Labelle 

 County, Quebec, small bands are seen every winter and a few 

 usually succumb to the poisoned bait or to the traps put out. 

 In the immediate vicinity of Ottawa it is a rare winter visitor. 



146. Corvus brachyrhynchos , Crow. An abundant summer 

 resident and rare permanent resident. A few remain about the 

 slaughter houses on the outskirts of the city. About March 15th 

 the large flocks of migrant crows pour in from the south, return- 

 ing again about November 4th. 



IcTERiD^ Blackbirds, Orioles, etc. 



147. Dolichonyx oryzivorus. Bobolink. This charming cor" 

 netist of the meadows is a common summer resident with us. 

 rarer in the more wooded portions of the district. It arrives 

 from the 5th to the 12th of May and returns at the end of July 

 and August, the 21st of the latter month being the latest date. 



148. Molothnis ater, Cowbird. This, our only real parasite 

 among birds, is a far too common summer resident with us. 

 Extreme dates for arrival and departure are: March 21st and 

 October 17th. In 1901, one was seen even in December. On 

 June 16th, 1909, I found a Red-eyed Vireo incubating two of 

 its own eggs together with three of the Cowbird; and on June 

 30th, another instance of the same kind, only, that one Cowbird 

 egg had already hatched out. Both nests were on the Experi- 

 mental Farm. The young of the smaller species almost in- 

 variably have to perish. 



149. Agelaius phoeniceus. Red-winged Blackbird. An 

 abundant summer resident. Found in large and small cat-tail 

 swamps. They first arrive March 21st; the local breeding birds 

 move away about August 7th. A little after that the migrants 

 of this species from farther north begin to arrive and once more 

 enliven the temporarily deserted swamps. On October 19th, 

 1908, about 1,000 were in the marshes near Rockland, some of 

 which remained till November 1st. 



150. Sturnella magna, Meadowlark. A common summer 

 resident, which seems to be increasing in numbers. The first- 

 comers arrive March 21st; by May 11th a nest with five eggs A 

 was found. Our local breeding birds move away about August /^ 

 8th, but the species becomes common once more in autumn. /^ 



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