230 Bird -Lore 



It was discovered that, during the winter months, the Owls were not to 

 be found at the barn. They evidently migrated each year in November, and, 

 did not return until some time in March. But the Owls did not return with 

 the spring of 1910. All that could be found to indicate that the loft had ever 

 been tenanted by them were a few decaying pellets; while it was learned that, 

 for the first time in years, a part of the coop had been reclaimed by Pigeons. 

 We can only entertain the hope that another spring will mark the return to 

 the farm of these birds of mystery. 



An Acre of Birds 



By ALTHEA R. SHERMAN, National, Iowa 



THE recent establishment of a Bird Reserve in Cincinnati turns our 

 attention once more to the rich results that may be obtained from 

 working well a small area. Notable among the very limited spaces 

 that have been thoroughly studied are the following: that of St. Paul's Church- 

 yard in New York City, in which there have been seen 40 species of birds; 

 that of the Boston PubUc Garden where were Hsted 116 species during a period 

 of nine years; and near it, in Roxbury, a private garden of six acres in which 

 were noted 85 species within a dozen years; that of another garden in Charles- 

 ton, S. C, where were found go species in the space of five years; that of 

 a small door-yard in Morton Park, Illinois, from which were observed 90 

 species within three years; and that of a door-yard of nearly an acre in Pasa- 

 dena, California, where were counted in one season 33 species of birds, 15 

 of which nested there. 



Of the large number of birds that have been seen from a small space in a 

 brief time, there stands prominent the record of Mr. Ridgway, who, from 

 his Washington yard, counted 24 species within a half hour, and who heard 

 25 species singing together one June day on an Ilhnois prairie. Perhaps the 

 largest list for a single forenoon, on so small an area as six acres, was that 

 obtained by two ornithologists at Scarboro, N. Y., where 77 species were seen. 

 Several enthusiastic ornithologists in Ohio have nearly doubled this number, 

 by devoting the whole day to the search, and by covering a much larger 

 territory. Sufficient instances have here been cited to prove that small fields 

 offer abundant material for bird study; but I should like to add to them some 

 items relating to the bird population on my own home acre, where I am sure 

 a long life might be spent in diligent study without exhausting the many 

 secrets connected with bird-life thereon. 



It was upon three acres of a cultivated field adjoining a small village that 

 the home was started forty-four years ago. Recently three other acres of 

 abandoned village lots have been added to the original acreage; but two- 

 thirds of this land enters very slightly into this account, since all the nests 



