5 i 4 THE SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER 



General Range. — Eastern North America, breeding north of the United 

 States; south in winter to the West Indies and South America. 



Range in Ohio. — Common spring and fall migrant throughout the state. 



WHO knows where these huddling Sandpipers come from? Where are 

 the) going? We do not know. Who cares? We never saw them before — 

 shoot them ! It is pleasant to hear the roar of a gun in our ears. We love to 

 see little white bodies dotting the sand. See! the wind lifts a dainty wing 

 and lets it fall again. It is broken. And look! There is a bird dragging 

 itself off into the coveted shelter of a fallen log. Hurry, or you will be too 

 late. Ah ! now you have it safe ! A rough squeeze of mercy you can hardly 

 deny it, as its eyes flood and it looks the unutterable woe of the wild things. 

 "Waal, stranger, what ye goin' to do with them birds? Reckon you'll eat 

 "em?" "Why, ye-es; I suppose so. They are good to eat, are they not?" 

 "Humph! Yaas; so's Hummin' birds." 



Thus again is enacted that familiar tragedy of the migrating shore birds 

 — a tragedy, which, repeated tens of thousands of times in a season, is sweep- 

 ing away these harmless lowland dwellers of the North with a movement 

 as relentless as the oncoming iceberg and as rapid as the progress of invention. 



Of course no true sportsman would assault such tiny game as this, but 

 the fact remains that somewhere somebody with a gun is doing for our shore- 

 birds, even the smallest of them; and that unless our legislatures place ample 

 means at the command of our Fish and Game Commissioners, and unless the 

 people themselves support and help to enforce wise measures of protection, 

 all our water- and shore-birds will lie things of the past. This department 

 of ornithology may then be given over to the care of the paleontologist. 



The Semipalmated Sandpiper is the one of most frequent occurrence, as 

 well as greatest abundance during migration. Flocks, containing any- 

 where from a score to several hundred birds, may be found feeding on mud- 

 flats or floating vegetation, or pattering about the sands of the Lake Erie shore. 

 In flight the birds move in close order, turning and doubling sharply in obedi- 

 ence to one knows not what sudden fear or fancy, uttering the while soft 

 whistling notes, tzveet, tweet, so that the passing flock sounds like a fairy rattle- 

 box. Altho rather wary when feeding, it is possible gradually to accustom 

 the birds to one's presence, so that they will permit a very close approach. 

 By manceuvering for half an hour in nearly open water. I once brought my 

 boat within three feet of a wisp of birds huddled on a floating patch of pickerel 

 weed, before they took flight. At such a time, as soon as the Peeps suspect 

 danger, they stop feeding and stand motionless. Upon a nearer approach. 

 they may sink slowly to their knees and crouch closely, as tho hoping to escape 

 notice; or else they will take wing with sudden unanimity and shrill pipings. 

 If not greatly disturbed the flock may return to the same spot the next minute; 

 hut when it does, the birds first stand motionless upon alighting, until all fears 

 are removed, or until the object of distrust retires. 



