8 Bird -Lore 



We have six dates that seem rather late fur certain feathered folk to stay: 

 Phoebe, November 5; Chipping Sparrow, November 13; Redstart, November 22; 

 Northern Water-Thrush, Noveml)er 30; Hermit Thrush, December 27, and 

 Fox Sparrow, December 30. 



The birds seen only once were the Rusty Hlackbird, April 7; White-crowned 

 Sparrow, May 12; Orchard Oriole, May ig; Connecticut Warbler, September 

 4; Red-headed Woodpecker, September 11; and Solitary Sandpiper, September 

 I?. 



Our first ac(juaintance with the Screech Owl was December 20 and he seems 

 willing to stay. 



Note — Mr. E. Fleischer of Brooklyn made 169 visits to the park during the year 

 and reports the birds named above, excepting the White Crowned Sparrow, American 

 Crossbill and Connecticut Warbler; but adds the Canada Goose. Turkey Vulture, 

 Sharp-shinned Hawk, Marsh Hawk, Whippoorwill, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Yellow- 

 bellied Flycatcher, Least Flycatcher, Blue Jay, Barn Swallow, White-eyed Vireo, Nash- 

 ville Warbler and Pine Warbler. This makes a total of 106 species seen in Prospect 

 Park during 1908. — K. W. \'. 



The Comradeship of Redpolls 



By E. J. SAWYER 



Illustrated by tlie author 



THE tamahility of the Redj)oll seems to bo prctt\- well known, and the 

 confiding disposition of the bird in nature — one can hardly say, the wild 

 state — is indeed too characteristic to escape the notice of the ordinary 

 observer. A flock feeds beside the road just ahead of you, some of the dainty 

 little fellows moving along in the wheel tracks a few yards away, others feeding 

 among the tall weeds, all so close that you can not but stop repeatedly to enjoy 

 their hai){)y twittering and something so near to hand-shaking with a wild l)ird. 

 Often I have had these birds perch on a rod I carried. On one occasion four of 

 them sat on the pole the nearest being only four or live feet from my hands. 



Perhaps you have never followed a Hock from field to field, morning till sun- 

 set, day after dav, and thus come to have a fellow feeling not otherwise possible. 

 After such an experience two things will ever be associated in your mind with 

 the dainty little Redpolls — their confidence in man and their fondness for each 

 other's society. I know no other birds which seem (|uite so nuuii lo enjoy a 

 gregarious life. When ])art of a fiock llies up from the feeding-place the others 

 at once change their usual notes to the call always given by solitary Redpolls. 

 The llock then either circles about and returns, or is soon joined by the remaining 

 birds. When one or two members of a llock are left alone they soon fiy to the top 

 of some nearby tree or tall bush and call pitifully for their mates. If a fiock Hies 

 l)ast in sight or hearing they are sure to join it with glad chirps always uttered 

 on such an occasion. 



These solitary birds will seldom stop to feed, but call and search continually 



