Bird-Lore's Twentieth Christmas Census 



THE highest number of species recorded in this census in the northern 

 and middle Atlantic States is forty-three by Orient, Long Island; in 

 the south, forty-five by St. Petersburg, Fla.; in the Mississippi Valley, 

 forty-five by Nashville, and forty by Kansas City; on the Pacific Coast 109 by 

 Santa Barbara. 



Despite the wintry conditions prevalent at Christmas time, the open fall 

 experienced by northeastern states is reflected in the presence of birds which 

 ordinarily have moved south before this date. For instance, the Grackle 

 occurs on four reports from Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York states 

 (75 at New Haven, the others single birds) ; twenty-five Red-winged Black- 

 birds are reported from New Haven, one from New York City; we have six 

 Rusty Blackbirds (Norwalk, Conn.), and twenty-five (Fort Plain, N. Y.); 

 and the Cowbird is reported from two localities on Long Island (37 and 1). 

 Rusty and Cowbird often migrate very late, and it will be more remarkable if 

 the latter winters than if it moves on at this late date. A census too late for pub- 

 lication from Bucksport, Me., lists a Towhee (Dec. 28) present in one locality 

 since Dec. 3. The bird was found dead next day, sent to the American Museum 

 (Mrs. W. H. Gardner), and the identification confirmed. A Wilson's Snipe 

 is reported from two widely separate Long Island localities; a Vesper Sparrow 

 from New York City and Plainfield, N. J.; a Catbird on Long Island and in 

 New Jersey. Of more casual occurrence, the Baltimore Oriole at Cohasset, 

 Mass (Dec. 21) ; King Rail at Orient, Long Island; Tree Swallow at Gardiner's 

 Island, and seven Swallows on the Hackensack Marshes; Phoebe at Moores- 

 town, N. J., and Northern Phalarope at Telford, Pa., should not be overlooked. 



Yet the interest of the census centers largely in what it can tell us of this 

 year's movement of northern Finches, — Siskin, Redpoll and Crossbills are more 

 than usually abundant. Twenty-seven Siskin reports are scattered over New 

 England, New York and New Jersey (1 to 100 individuals). Besides one just 

 across the river from Trenton, there is one report each from Pennsylvania, 

 Maryland, Indiana, western Missouri, eastern Kansas (1 to 7); it is mentioned 

 once in Illinois, and strangely enough, the largest number (500) is reported from 

 Youngstown, Ohio. Twenty Redpoll reports are scattered over New England 

 and New York, in which state we find it as far south as Rhinebeck, on the 

 Hudson, and twice on the coast (eastern Long Island and Staten Island). It 

 also occurs at Youngstown (12). Both Crossbills have come south this year, 

 but at this date seem to have almost completely left New England and eastern 

 Long Island, though the Red Crossbill is recorded from Martha's Vineyard, 

 both "within a few days" at Orient, L. I., and a single Red at Wareham, 

 Mass. The census finds the Red Crossbill once on western Long Island (12 

 individuals), twice on Staten Island, N. Y. (same locality, 26 and 13), once 

 each in New Jersey (7), Maryland (10), and District of Columbia (2); also 



(14) 



