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Bird - Lore 



brought in a specimen of Gambel's Spar- 

 row, indicating again that this form is 

 probably a regular migrant through 

 western Missouri. Mr. Teachenor was the 

 first observer, so far as the writer knows, 

 to note the fact that this bird occurs 

 regularly this far east, and hopes in time 

 to accumulate a large enough series of 

 specimens to establish the fact beyond 

 question. 



After several days of ideal weather, a 

 noticeable movement of Meadowlarks, 

 Bluebirds, Nighthawks, and other common 

 species on October 12 and 13 indicated 

 that the balmy days might soon come to 

 an end. On the 14th a cold, driving rain 

 set in from the northeast with promise of 

 turning to snow, and now local observers 

 are on the alert for that most stimulating 

 of all wild music, the yodeling of Canada 

 Geese. — Harry Harris, Kansas City, Mo. 



Denver Region. — The writer has often 

 wondered if the ornithologist of the future 

 will predict migratory waves as the mete- 

 orologist forecasts storms; would a full 

 knowledge of the weather conditions over 

 the subpolar regions enable one to foretell 

 bird-waves? Weather conditions in the 

 north of Colorado and in the high altitudes 

 of the state, and especially about Denver, 

 have been mild, and, in fact, ideal for the 

 continued stay of our Warblers, for ex- 

 ample. Yet some of them seemed to have 

 reached this region and passed on con- 

 siderably earlier than normal. 



The earliest date that Audubon's War- 

 bler has been seen by the writer in this 

 neighborhood is September 28, and the 

 latest October 20, yet this year it appeared 

 here in numbers on September 19, and 

 none have been noticed since September 28; 

 in other words, the wave of south-going 

 Audubon Warblers appeared this fall ten 

 days early, and was over with by Sep- 

 tember 30. On the other hand, the Yellow 

 Warbler was last seen here on August 29, 

 which is as late as the writer has ever seen 

 it here. The Pileolated Warbler's previous 

 latest appearance hereabouts is Septem- 

 ber 14, while this year it was September 20. 

 These three species of Warblers certainly 



give no inkling as to what relation the 

 local weather conditions have with their 

 migration movements — one left on time, 

 so to speak; one was ten days early; and 

 one seven days late! It is of interest to 

 ask what might have been the conditions 

 in the higher altitudes, where the Audubon 

 and the Pileolated Warblers breed, that 

 caused these anomalies in migration, for 

 such they appear to me. Bronzed Grackles 

 breed sparingly in and about Denver, but 

 only appear in large flocks any time be- 

 tween September 15 and 30; this season 

 they came in flocks at the usual time. The 

 latest date on which the writer has noted 

 Audubon's Hermit Thrush in this neigh- 

 borhood, in the past is August 31, yet this 

 year one was recorded as having been seen 

 near my hoQse on September 28. Though 

 believing that these late-appearingBronzed 

 Grackles and the Thrush are not the left- 

 overs of our breeders, but most likely 

 migrants from the North, the writer has, 

 however, no way of proving this idea, but 

 hopes that banding will help solve the 

 question. He looks forward eagerly to the 

 data which will be accumulated when this 

 banding method gains the prominence it 

 merits. The Robin migration during the 

 season just passed has been very character- 

 istic, coming in great waves, as in years 

 past, a few days exhibiting extraordinary 

 numbers, followed by days of relative 

 scarcity. One very large wave centered 

 about September 18. Bullock's Orioles 

 commonly depart in the third week of 

 August, which was true of this year. This 

 species has been noted by myself here as 

 late as September 24. 



Clay-colored, Brewer's, and Chipping 

 Sparrows have been exceedingly common 

 the past two weeks; in fact, many more 

 ilia., "nial have been noted since August 

 21; they are thinning out at this writing. 

 There have been rather more Rock Wrens 

 than usual, and they have reached the 

 region notably earlier than ordinarily; the 

 usual abundance occurs, on the average, 

 during October, while this year it was 

 noted in September. 



My general impression of the past two 

 months is that the most characteristic 



