The Season 



203 



Bittern, which seems to be somewhat in- 

 creasing in numbers about Washington, was 

 reported to be breeding not far from the city. 

 An always interesting bird, the I'rothonotary 

 Warbler, was three times seen during the 

 spring migration,— on April 27, at Dyke, Va., 

 by Mr. L. D. Miner; on May 3, in the same 

 locality, by Miss M. T. Cooke; and on May 

 9, at Miller, Va., by Mr. L. D. Miner. 



While in many respects the spring migra- 

 tion of IQ2I was unsatisfactory, particularly 

 in the small numbers of birds present, espe- 

 cially Warblers, the peculiarities of the 

 movements of the various species more than 

 made up in interest for the scarcity of 

 both species and individuals observable. 

 — Harry C. Oberholser, Biological Survey, 

 Washington, D. C. 



Oberlin (Ohio) Region. — The outstand- 

 ing feature of the period was the continued 

 cold and unfavorable weather until almost 

 the end of May. There were no large move- 

 ments of the birds at any time. Most of the 

 species were represented by fewer individuals 

 than ever before in my experience. But 

 while many of the birds were late, the foliage 

 was at least two weeks ahead of schedule. 

 Thus, when the Warblers and later Sparrows 

 and Flj'catchers did come, it was difficult to 

 make them out in the dense foliage. Many 

 of the W^arblers did not go on north until 

 the first week in June. On June 5 there were 

 six Ruddy Turnstones and one Semipalmated 

 Plover feeding along the shore of Lake Erie, 

 near Huron. This is the latest record for 

 these two species. — Lynds Jones, Ohrrlin, 

 Ohio. 



Chicago Region. — While the warm win- 

 ter kept a number of species in this region 

 which generally winter a few miles south, it 

 did not affect the majority of the later mi- 

 grants which passed through about the usual 

 time, some, of course, a little earlier and some 

 a little later. 



Thirty-three species of Warblers were re- 

 ported, including a Kentucky (Mr. Nathan 

 Leopold, Jr.), a Prothonotary, found singing 

 in Garfield Park, in the center of the west 

 side of the city, by Mr. Benjamin T. Gault, 



and a Pine Warbler taken at beach, May 7, 

 by Mr. Sanborn. Other rarer ones are the 

 Cerulean, Wilson's, Golden-winged and Blue- 

 winged; a nest and six eggs of the latter were 

 found by Mr. Edward R. Ford in the same 

 place that he found them seven years ago, 

 and is the second breeding-record for this 

 region. A few species stayed later than usual, 

 a Black-and-White and a Canada being seen 

 June 5, at Highland Park by Mr. Sanborn 

 and a Connecticut and Mourning were found 

 dead the 7th and 8th respectively. The 

 migration was at its height May 11 to 15 and 

 20 to 23. 



Mr. Gault has observed a number of inter- 

 esting shore-birds, Semipalmated, Stilt, and 

 Baird's Sandpipers being seen in Grant Park 

 May 9, and Sanderling, Red-backed, Turn- 

 stone and Black-bellied Plover in Lincoln 

 Park May 24; the Red-backed were seen 

 again June 5. Mr. Ford found a large flock 

 of Semipalmated Plover in the Skokie Marsh 

 west of Fort Sheridan May 22, and Mr. San- 

 born a flock of Least Sandpipers in the same 

 place May 15. Dr. Eifrig also found the 

 Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers at Addi- 

 son May 26. 



Other interesting records for the region are 

 Clay-colored and Lincoln's Sparrows in Grant 

 Park May 15, and a Harris Sparrow in Hum- 

 bolt Park May 14 (Mr. Gault); Turkey 

 \"ulture April 24, and Lark Sparrow May 8, 

 in the Dunes (Dr. Lowey); Osprey May 15, 

 in the Dunes (Mr. Ford), and an Orchard 

 Oriole May 19, in Jackson Park (Mr. Wat- 

 son). Short-billed Marsh Wrens have been 

 reported from a number of places south and 

 west of the city and a colony of Dickcissels 

 has stopped for the summer in the Skokie. 



Dr. P^ifrig reports from River Forest, west 

 of the city. Pheasant and Quail, probably 

 breeding; Red-bellied Woodpecker May i, 

 and 14; Mockingbird May 21, which stayed 

 aroimd his home all day; Louisiana Water- 

 Thrush May II, and a Barn Owl was brought 

 to him dead May 29, from Maywood. A 

 Bewick's Wren was seen April 30; these 

 Wrens were also reported from the Dunes 

 (Mrs. Richardson) April 2 and 21. 



Twenty-eight species have been foimd 

 breeding to date, a few of which might be 



