110 



Bird- Lore 



Blackbird, Desert Horned Lark, Magpie, 

 and Tree Sparrow. Of these 4, it can 

 readily be seen that 3 are residents through- 

 out the year, and 1 a winter visitor only. 

 On Christmas Day, 191 2, only 5 species 

 were seen, due to inclement weather pre- 

 venting an extended search, while on the 

 same day, in 1919, [9 species were seen, 

 notwithstanding that the early part of the 

 month of December had been extremely 

 cold. While weather conditions make a 

 difference in the lists gathered, yet it seems 

 to the writer that the thoroughness and 

 extent of search make a greater difference. 

 One can say from the brief review of this 

 season's bird-life, during the past few 

 years, that it was, in 1919, somewhat out 

 of the ordinary. Thus one learns that of 

 the 37 species seen during eight years, 

 seven were noted for the first time; why 

 this happened to be one cannot say. 

 Perhaps it was pure luck. This large 

 number of birds new to that date, together 

 with the fact that only once before were 

 as many as 19 species seen on Christmas 

 Day, gives color to the idea that the 

 season just passed has been out of 

 the ordinary. — W. H. Bergtold, Denver, 

 Colo. 



San Francisco Region. — Wintry 

 weather in the bay region lasted from 

 Thanksgiving Day until January 9, with 

 occasional warm days to relieve the 

 monotony of cold north winds. Unusual 

 bird records are expected when such cold 

 visits us, for it means that birds are driven 

 down from the higher altitudes where the 

 weather is much more severe. This may 

 account for the numerous records of 

 Sierra Crossbills which have been sent in 

 from Carmel, Pacific Grove, Golden Gate 

 Park, Berkeley, and other points, as also 

 for the early flocking of Western Robins 

 in this vicinity. 



All the winter visitants have been noted 

 this year, with the exception of the Golden- 

 1. rowned Kinglets, which were surprisingly 



abundant during last winter, but seem 

 to be missing so far this year. In Berkeley, 

 Juncos, and Pine Siskins have been present 

 in very large flocks, Bluebirds have been 

 seen more often than usual, while Pipits, 

 Varied Robins, Red-breasted Nuthatches, 

 and Western Winter Wrens have been 

 quite common. On a certain brushy hill- 

 side to the south, a little coterie of Western 

 Gnatcatchers has remained since October, 

 while farther north a House Wren, more 

 hardy than most of its tribe, has been 

 resident for the third winter. 



After January 10 the weather was very 

 mild, so that now (February 1) wild currant 

 is in full bloom and almond trees, Japanese 

 quince, and many blossoming shrubs 

 are radiant with color. The Anna Hum- 

 mingbird is in fine feather as he buzzes 

 about these blossoms. He still has them 

 to himself for a few days until the Allen 

 and Rufous Hummers arrive to compete 

 with him for the supply of honey. Many 

 of the permanent residents are singing 

 freely. In the canons, California Thrashers, 

 Titmice, Vigors Wrens. San Francisco 

 Towhees, Hutton Vireos and Flickers are 

 all tuning up, while the Meadowlarks make 

 the open fields resound. The Xuttall 

 Sparrows are withdrawing from the flocks 

 of Intermediate Sparrows and sing con- 

 stantly near last year's nesting-sites. 



On Lake Merritt, in Oakland, the Ducks, 

 Gulls, and Grebes make a wonderful show. 

 Pintails and Canvasbacks predominate 

 at this season, the former on the lawns and 

 the latter on the lake. Baldpates and 

 Shovellers wander about on the grass like 

 chickens, while Lesser Scaup and Ruddy 

 Ducks, Fared Grebes, and Coots add their 

 forces to those of the Canvasbacks. Golden 

 Eyes, Bufflehead, and Green-winged Teal 

 are present also, and many Killdeer feed 

 along the shore. On Lake Merced, in San 

 Francisco, a flock of a dozen Whistling 

 Swans have delighted the hearts of bird- 

 lovers in this region. -AMELIA 5. Ai.i.kn, 

 Berkeley) Calif. 



