A BIRD'S YEAR 13 



With many migrating birds, soon after the 

 young are full grown, old and young gather in 

 flocks and, for several weeks, roam happily 

 about the country before taking up their south- 

 ward journey. But prior to their departure is 

 the moulting which follows close upon the breed- 

 ing season. Then birds are very quiet. There is 

 little song and activity of ail kinds is at low ebb. 

 Then the gay suits of the males are doffed and 

 sober-colored coats better adapted for travel are 

 put on. 



The southward flight begins early in August. 

 Tree and Bank Swallows are among the first to 

 leave and several of the more delicate warblers 

 begin their journey well ahead of the advent of 

 Jack Frost. With these birds the stay in the 

 nesting grounds is very short, just long enough 

 to rear their broods, scarcely more than two 

 months. This seems a very brief period when 

 the length of the migration is considered. But 

 those sturdy heralds of the spring, the Grackle, 

 Robin, Bluebird and Song Sparrow, stay late, 

 some of them seeming to leave with reluctance 

 only when cheerless winter is close upon them. 



The tide of southern migration is at its height 

 from September 15 to mid-October. The army 

 that comes in the spring has now been increased 

 by all the broods reared, a vast host. This is 

 rather a discouraging period for the new student 

 of bird life, because of the change in plumage 

 since the springtime, and the lack of song. The 

 gayly dressed males are now in plain clothes and 

 the host of young birds are in costume often 

 quite unlike that of either parent. This leads to 



