Notes from Field and Study 



341 



throat nested in the outskirts, though no 

 nest was detected. So far as the writer can 

 recall, he never saw so many Mourning 

 Doves, nor so few Hawks in any corres- 

 ponding 'June 15 to August 15' in the past, 

 notwithstanding that a good deal of time 

 has been spent motoring in the suburbs 

 and the outlying areas. On the other 

 hand, it is a pleasure to know that the 

 Golden Eagle, the Turkey Vulture, and 

 the Black Swift are still with us, since all 

 three species have been seen at different 

 times within 25 miles of Denver, between 

 the dates that this report covers. 



Shore-birds were heard migrating 

 southward first on the night of August 12; 

 Robins and Chipping Sparrows were 

 observed gathering in small flocks on this 

 date also, a very early one, due, perhaps, 

 to a temporary 'cold spell' or to the early 

 onset of low temperatures in the near-by 

 mountains. 



The usual Flycatchers have been in 

 evidence, also Kingbirds, Arkansas King- 

 birds, and Wood Pewees; and twice 

 Cassin's Kingbird has been seen within 

 the city limits. The companionable 

 Black-headed Grosbeak has been verv 



common; none of our summer birds is 

 more of a lasting joy than this delightful 

 singer, and his soft note of gentle encour- 

 agement to his mate or young would be 

 missed sadly were this bird to disappear 

 or leave us. The rank and file of our bird 

 population did not fail us this summer; 

 Robins, Chipping Sparrows, Yellow War- 

 blers, Warbling Vireos, Bronzed Crackles, 

 Brewer's Blackbirds, . Saj^'s Phoebes, 

 Nighthawks, and a few Plumbeous 

 Vireos helped to keep alive one's daily 

 interest in his bird neighbors. 



It is a renewed source of regret, disap- 

 pointment, and resentment that our 

 beautiful Mountain Bluebird has been 

 almost completely frustrated in its attempt 

 at nesting in Denver by the House Spar- 

 row; the writer knows of no successful 

 nesting within Denver during this past 

 summer. — W. H. Bergtold, Denver, Colo. 



[Note. — It gives us pleasure to add the 

 name of Dr. Thomas S. Roberts, of Minne- 

 apolis, to the list of authorities on local 

 bird-life who are now contributing to 'The 

 Season.' We hope in time to have this 

 bi-monthly record of events in the bird 

 world cover most of the country. — Ed.] 



WINTER NEIGHBORS 

 TREE SPARROW AND DOWNY WOODPECKER 

 - Photographed by Verdi Burtch, Branchport, N. Y. 



