THE OTTAWA NATURAUsf 



VOL. XXV. OTTAWA, JULY, 1911 No. 



CHANGES IN THE STATUS OF CERTAIN BIRDS IN THE 

 VICINITY OF MONTREAL, P.Q. 



By L. McI. Terrill, Westmount, Que. 



The following notes refer to the local abundance of certain 

 birds that are gradually extending their breeding range in a 

 north-easterly direction, and to other species, that, as summer 

 residents, have either disappeared, or are fast disappearing from 

 this vicinity. 



To emphasize this I have made a comparison of the present 

 standing of these species, with that of fifteen years ago, and have 

 quoted from Mr. E. D. Wintle's list of Montreal birds, published 

 in 1896 such quotations being marked with asterisks. 



I have also made notes on other species of breeding birds, 

 listed by Mr. Wintle, as doubtful or rare summer residents. 



Nycticorax x.eyius, Black-crowned Night Heron. 



" Summer resident ; common. Breeds on islands in Lachine 

 Rapids."* 



These birds have forsaken their former nesting grounds 

 but still breed in large numbers in the flooded ash swamps 

 bordering on the Lake of Two Mountains. In two heronries 

 visited on May 24th, 1908 and 1909, there were several hundred 

 pairs nesting. 



Actitis macularia, Spotted Sandpiper. 



"Summer resident ; abundant."* 



Having seen no mention of gregarious habits attributed to 

 this Sandpiper, it might be of interest to note that a few years 

 ago a large colony were nesting on Isle Ronde (a small island of 

 a few acres, opposite the city). Visiting this island on May 

 26th, 1896, I located without difficulty thirteen occupied nests. 

 Again, on May 31st, 1898, I examined upwards of twenty-five. 

 On each occasion only a small portion of the island was examined 

 and I estimated that there were well over one hundred pairs 

 breeding. 



Accipiter velox, Sharp-shinned Hawk. 

 "Transient visitant; common."* 



