The Season 



293 



Kansas City Region. — But one note 

 of unusual interest has come to hand dur- 

 ing the current period. On June 19 two, 

 presumably a pair, of Upland Plovers were 

 noted in a meadow just inside the south- 

 western city limits. By their behavior 

 they doubtless had young nearby, as they 

 were particularly noisy and solicitous on 

 being approached in one corner of the 

 meadow. This prairie region is an old- 

 time shooting ground where local sports- 

 men of earlier times were always assured 

 of a full bag during the season. During the 

 past fifteen or more years only migrants 

 have been seen here in ever-decreasing 

 numbers, and it is a most hopeful sign 

 again to find these desirable birds remain- 

 ing here to breed. However, this region 

 is doomed as a breeding-stand for such 

 wild birds, as home sites are rapidly replac- 

 ing the open country. 



A few Ducks and Coots have also re- 

 mained to breed, as reports have come in 

 from several near-by points, between June 

 1 and 17, of Wood Ducks, Blue-winged 

 Teal and Coots being seen in small troops 

 and family parties. At least one pair of 

 Blue-winged Teal is known to have been 

 unsuccessful in bringing off their brood. 



A Marsh Hawk observed on June 27 was 

 no doubt nesting in the neighborhood. 

 There is but one authentic record of the 

 local nesting of this Hawk, though it is 

 common enough during migration and in 

 winter. 



The first returning Yellowlegs were 

 reported as arriving on July 18, and on 

 August 4 a belated Meadowlark's nest 

 was found containing four eggs (Tindall). 

 Baltimore Orioles were first heard singing 

 on August 8 following their mysterious 

 disappearance during the post-nuptial 

 moult. 



A large Robin's roost was recently 

 discovered in a grove of pines in the 

 Country Club district. The birds seemed to 

 come in mainly from the southwest to this 

 roost which evidently has been used for 

 some time. Mourning Doves were also 

 noted using one end of this grove for a 

 roosting-place. The usual large Crackle 

 roost in the Rockhill region is again caus- 



ing annoyance, and, indeed, seems to be 

 occupied by more birds this year than ever 

 before. 



The season here has been altogether 

 favorable for bird-life, though there are 

 nearly forty records of nests being broken 

 up in a region where cats are not a menace 

 and where the predatory small boy has 

 been successfully appealed to. Numerous 

 Blue Jays in the region may account for the 

 destruction. Mourning Doves are notice- 

 ably more abundant than usual, and Yel- 

 low-billed Cuckoos are unaccountably 

 scarce. 



An interesting record received too late 

 for inclusion in the last letter from this 

 point was the finding on May 21 of a 

 crippled Little Black Rail on the Missouri 

 River by William Andrews. — Harry 

 Harris, Kansas City, Missouri. 



Itasca State Park (Minnesota) 

 Region. — Shortly after rendering the 

 report for the last period, the writer left 

 Minneapolis to spend the summer in this 

 northern locality in the evergreen region 

 of the state, which was described in some 

 detail in last year's summer record. The 

 time since has been largely spent in secur- 

 ing moving-picture films of birds, small 

 mammals, scenery, etc. 



With the exception of two brief spells 

 the summer has been much cooler than 

 last year and up to the middle of July 

 cloudy and rainy, so that the lakes, streams 

 and lowlands have been over full of water. 



The most notable feature of the bird- 

 life here this summer has been the excep- 

 tional scarcity of characteristic Canadian 

 species that are usually abundant and 

 furnish the chief attraction to the bird- 

 lover from the Transition Zone. Hermit 

 Thrushes and Veeries, White-throated 

 Sparrows and Juncos have been present 

 in very limited numbers, whereas ordi- 

 narily they are seen and heard everywhere 

 throughout the nesting season. Especially 

 has the absence of the Warblers been a 

 matter of surprise and a keen disappoint- 

 ment. Not a single Myrtle, Pine, Black- 

 burnian, or Magnolia Warbler was seen 

 during the breeding season. Last year 



