26 Bird - Lore 



(unusually common); Old Squaw, 836; Scoter, i; White-winged Scoter, 4; Surf Scoter 

 525; Brant, 7; Woodcock, 2; Wilson Snipe, i; Mourning Dove, i; Sharp-shinned Hawk, 

 i; Saw-whet Owl, i; Screech Owl, 3; Belted Kingfisher, i; Downy Woodpecker, 2; 

 Flicker, 15; Horned Lark, 520; Common Crow, 317; Fish Crow, 4; Starling, 14; Meadow- 

 lark, 166 (several singing); Goldfinch, 22; Pine Siskin, 3; Snow Bunting, 9; Lapland 

 Longspur, 5; Ipswich Sparrow, i; Savanna Sparrow, 3; White-throated Sparrow, i; 

 Tree Sparrow, 280; Field Sparrow, i; Junco, 2; Song Sparrow, 150 (one singing); Swamp 

 Sparrow, 7; Northern Shrike, i; Myrtle Warbler, 143; Pipit, 39; Winter Wren, i; Chicka- 

 dee, 130; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 11; Ruby-crowned Kinglet, i; (another was seen on 

 December 12); Robin, 14. Total, 51 species, 4,012 individuals. During the preceding 

 week the following additional species were observed: Glaucous Gull, i; Bittern, i; 

 Canada Goose, 64; Bob-white, 22; Marsh Hawk, i; Rough-legged Hawk, i; Blue Jay, i; 

 Red Crossbill, 2; Red-headed Woodpecker, i (recorded three times this season); Car- 

 dinal, i; Cedar-bird, 4; Fox Sparrow, i; Carolina Wren, i. — Harry, Frank and Roy 

 Latham. 



Statement by Roy Latham. — Bird students have repeatedly asked how we suc- 

 ceeded each Christmas in obtaining such a generous list of birds. Our region is naturally 

 rich in bird-life, being so situated that we have a splendid combination of land and 

 water birds. 



Orient is wedge-shaped and washed by wide seas on either side. The influx of the 

 migration enters at the narrow end. In winter, with the small land birds, much of their 

 movements occur in the daytime; especially is this true of the Horned Larks, which 

 follow the chain of islands from the New England coast to Long Island. One standing 

 on the eastern tip of Orient Point fork can note company after company of Larks, 

 Pipits, Snow Buntings and Crossbills arriving from Plum Island, which lies in a north- 

 easterly direction just beyond the racing tide-way, known as 'Plum Gut.' 



Gardiner's Island, in view six miles due southeast, is a mighty factor in Orient bird- 

 life. We depend on the surplus from this bountiful Island to swell our list. Many species 

 wander from there to our shores and pass a day or two. With Hawks this is most notable. 



Our Crows, too, each night disappear, regardless of the weather, in a southeastly 

 direction, and return each morning between dawn and sunrise. This fact is so well 

 known that for years the farmers have termed the Crows "Gardiner's Island Crows." 



The most interesting connection between the Island and Orient is the Black Ducks 

 which seek our marshes for food on nights and stormy days, and use the Island as a 

 refuge. A complete search of Orient on a pleasant day often fails to reveal a single 

 member of this species. In the evening, an hour after dusk on the same day, it is com- 

 mon to find several hundred on the same grounds. At dusk they come whistling in 

 from the east in pairs and small bands, and directly their quacking is heard from every 

 quarter of the marsh and continues throughout the night. At dawn, or just before, 

 these Duskys leave for their haven of safety. 



On stormy days hundreds and hundreds of them come seeking food and shelter at 

 the edge of the woods on the flooded meadows. Some are stupidly tame, and are potted 

 mercilessly by shooters. The newcomers actually decoying to the slain fowl as they 

 lie lifeless on the water. 



Since the protection during late winter and spring. Black Ducks are becoming less 

 uncommon on pleasant days, as well as increasing. 



The climate in our vicinity being modified by deep salt seas, the snow-storms are 

 rare, or turn into rain, while fifty miles west, on the island, it is snowing heavily, conse- 

 quently transit stragglers en route halt for food and rest, where fields are bare and waters 

 unfrozen. There are few days in winter when one can not find some unexpected bird 

 loitering in field, marsh or bay. 



It is a great opportunity, if one knows every foot of their territory and just where to 



