Bird-Lore's Twenty-second Christmas Census 



THE highest number of species recorded in this census, in the northern 

 and middle Atlantic States, is 37 at Elizabeth, N. J.; comparable, in 

 the northern Mississippi Valley, with 34 at Buckeye Lake, Ohio, (or a 

 combined total of 43 of the Wheaton Club, Columbus, Ohio). Kentucky has 

 39, Alabama 40, and Oklahoma 38. In the South, 109 at East Goose Creek, 

 Fla., is a larger list than 88 from Santa Barbara, which is the highest for the 

 Pacific coast. It would seem, then, that Florida can successfully rival Cali- 

 fornia in variety of winter birds. 



Last year, there were 118 published census reports from the New England 

 and Middle Atlantic States, and Middle Western States north of the Ohio and 

 east of the Mississippi Rivers. Therein the Northern Shrike was recorded ten 

 times, a total of 13 individuals. Except for 1 in Illinois, all (that is 12 indi- 

 viduals) were in the 61 reports from New York and New England. In the 

 corresponding 113 census reports for the present year the Northern Shrike is 

 recorded 37 times, a total of 52 individuals, with a maximum of 3 individuals 

 to any one report (occurring twice). There are 33 individuals in the 57 reports 

 from New York and New England, but none in 8 reports from Maine, New 

 Hampshire, and Vermont, as against 3 (of the total 13) in 7 reports from those 

 states last year. For the rest, 15 individuals are reported from New Jersey 

 and Pennsylvania, 2 in Wisconsin, and 2 in Ohio. 



Arnprior, Ont. — Dec. 25; 9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fine; 3 in. snow; wind west, light; temp 

 io° below zero at start, 3 above at return. Twenty miles on foot. Observers separate. Canada 

 Ruffed Grouse, 28; Hairy Woodpecker, 2; Downy Woodpecker, 3; Canada Jay, 1; Evening 

 Grosbeak, 32; Pine Grosbeak, 13; Redpoll, 36; Snow Bunting (heard); White-breasted Nut- 

 hatch, 2; Red-breasted Nuthatch, 3; Black-capped Chickadee, 33; Hudsonian Chickadee, 2. 

 Total, 12 species, 155 individuals (plus Snow Buntings). One observer traveled the Nopiming 

 Crown Game Reserve, a small wild-life sanctuary established near Arnprior, which accounts 

 for the unusual number of Ruffed Grouse.— Liguoei Gormley and Chas. MacNamara. 



Bowmanville, Ont. (to Hampton and the Lake Ontario shore). — Dec. 23; 8.45 a.m. to 

 4.15 p.m. Cloudy; i inch of snow; wind southeast, very light; temp. 30 to 36°. Total distance 

 covered, fourteen miles on foot. Observers separate. Great Black-backed Gull, 2; Herring 

 Gull, 7; Ring-billed Gull, 10; American Merganser, 24; Virginia Rail (?), 1; Ruffed Grouse, 2; 

 Hairy Woodpecker, 1; Downy Woodpecker, 5; Flicker, 2; Blue Jay, 10; Bronzed Grackle, 1; 

 Tree Sparrow, 30; Junco, 6; Brown Creeper, 1; White-breasted Nuthatch, 5; Chickadee, 15. 

 Total, 16 species, about 122 individuals. Others seen recently — Sparrow Hawk, Golden- 

 crowned Kinglet. The Bronzed Grackle was observed very closely by Miss Raynes. They 

 have been here all autumn. The Great Black-backed Gull was observed at about 100 yards 

 with field-glasses by Mr. Gould. The Gull-like characteristics, together with jet-black 

 mantle and large size, made identification positive. The Virginia Rail (?) was glimpsed by 

 Mr. Allen. The identification was not positive, but it was some such marsh bird. — Margaret 

 Raynes, M. G. Gould and A. Allen. 



Coldstream, Ont. — Dec. 24. Sky overcast; ground covered with snow; wind light, 

 northeast. Ruffed Grouse, 1 ; Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 ; Red-tailed Hawk, 1 ; Long-eared Owl, 

 1; Screech Owl, 1; Great Horned Owl, 1; Hairy Woodpecker, 1; Downy Woodpecker, 1; 

 Blue Jay, 1; Tree Sparrow, 15; Song Sparrow, 1; White-breasted Nuthatch, 4; Black-capped 



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