2 Field Museum of Natural History 



the hawks and owls, are always abundant in the fields 

 and woods. In the Dune region of northern Indiana, 

 where deep hollows afford the birds protection from 

 the wind and snow, there is a great supply of poison 

 sumach, flowering dogwood, bittersweet and other like 

 fruits, as well as many conifers attractive to Crossbills 

 and Pine Grosbeaks. 



With such favorable conditions, then, it is not to 

 be wondered that there are about sixty species of birds 

 that may be found in the vicinity of Chicago during 

 the winter. Let it not be supposed, however, that all 

 sixty can be found every day or even every winter. 

 Birds are not so abundant in winter as at other sea- 

 sons, and each species stays in the locality best suited 

 to its requirements, so they are often widely separated. 

 Certain species are of a restless nature, and while 

 found in one place today, may be miles away by tomor- 

 row. Moreover, the severity of the winter, affecting 

 their movements, keeps certain species here during 

 mild years and drives others down from the north 

 during cold years. 



This paper will take up the different types of 

 country about Chicago, and briefly discuss the species 

 likely to be found in them. Lake Michigan and the 

 ducks found there will first be considered. The best 

 time to observe ducks is when a west wind has blown 

 the loose ice out, leaving a waterway between it and 

 the solid ice masses which extend out from the shore. 

 In this open water, the ducks feed and often come close 

 to the ice for protection from the wind, so that a person 

 hidden in a hollow near the edge of the water has an 

 excellent opportunity to make close observations. 

 There are four ducks that are common in winter, the 

 American Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Old 

 Squaw and Golden-eye. They arrive in October and 

 November and leave the last of March or early in 



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