The Season 



105 



hours, after which the danger was past. In 

 general, few fatalities wire reported. 



Chilly weather, with frequent frosts, is still 

 prevalent, but, judging from the number of 

 moths which < olio t about a protected porch- 

 light, insect food is still available. Thrashers 

 and Vigor's Wrens are singing freely, un- 

 daunted by rain or wind, while the Anna 

 Hummers, robbed by frost of the honey of the 

 eucalyptus, have turned to the more hard} 

 acacia and Japanese quince. 



Titmice were seen investigating nesting- 

 boxes on February 8, and though they put off 

 the day of decision, their frequent songs 

 indicate an increasing interest in nests and 

 mates. A Short-eared Owl was seen on the 

 Alameda marsh lands on February 5 (Mrs. 

 Kelly), and about 100 Band- tailed Pigeons 

 and many Varied Thrushes were reported 

 near Easton on February 12 (San Francisco 

 Audubon Association). February 13 brought 

 the first spring migrant, the Allen Humming 

 bird (Mr. Storer). The park at Lake Merritt 

 has a number of bird inhabitants not formerly 

 found in that neighborhood. This is no doubt 

 due to the generous planting of toyon and 

 other shrubs which offer cover and food to a 

 number of species. The berries are eagerly 

 sought now by the Cedarbirds and Robins, 

 but Varied Robins, both here and on the 

 University campus, are rare this year. 



A census of the water-birds on Lake Mer- 

 ritt, made by a member of the San Francisco 

 Audubon Association , January 1 5 , estimated a 

 grand total of from 3, 200 to 3,600 individuals. 

 Of these, Pintails were most numerous, 650 to 

 700; Coots, a close second; Baldpates, 500 to 

 550; Canvasbacks and Ruddies, 450 to 500, 

 each; Lesser Scaup, 250 to 300; and Shovel- 

 lers, 100 to 125. Golden-eyes, Buffleheads 

 and White-winged Scoters each numbered 

 less than a dozen, and a Red- head and a male 

 European Widgeon were equally distinguished 

 as rare birds. Eared Grebes numbered 60 to 

 65, and Pied-billed Grebes 12 to 15. On 

 February 12 Mr. Storer reported a decided 

 diminution in these numbers, particularly 

 among the Pin-tailed Ducks. 



Mrs. Kelly has visited the Alameda shore 

 about three times a week, making a special 

 effort to observe particularly the effect of 

 storms upon the shore-birds. She reports 



that the llocks of Western and Red-backed 

 Sandpipers have numbered about 1,000. One 

 Semipalmated Plover and one Sora Rail were 

 seen early in January, and 2 or 3 Dowitchers 

 appeared about once in two weeks. A dozen 

 Willets were always to be seen, while about 

 24 Black-bellied Plovers covered the flats 

 only at very low tide. Godwits were always 

 more conspicuous during stormy weather 

 and ort January 4, which was a cold, stormy 

 day following mild days, there were 50 God- 

 wits and about 30 Black-bellied Plovers 

 which seemed to be seeking protection in the 

 estuary- Amiii \ Saxhorn Allen, Berkeley, 

 Calif. ' 



Los Axc.eles Region. — The period under 

 consideration has been one of frequent storms 

 of a severity experienced ordinarily only 

 about once or twice in a decade. The snow- 

 fall in the mountains has been reported as 

 averaging from one to four feet at the 2,000- 

 to 4,000-foot levels, and much deeper at the 

 higher altitudes. Temperatures many de- 

 grees below freezing have prevailed during or 

 following nearly all of the succession of 

 storms. An appeal from a forest ranger in 

 the Sierra Madre Mountains for food for the 

 suffering birds was a new note, perhaps struck 

 for the first time in this region. 



A county game warden reports 1,000 Band- 

 tailed Pigeons near the mouth of the San 

 Gabriel Cation, supposed to be birds that 

 normally winter in the region north of Mount 

 Wilson. Audubon members have seen small 

 numbers of them in the Beverly Hills and in 

 Griffith Park, where also a few Blue-fronted 

 Jays appeared early in February. Cedar 

 Waxwings and Robins swarmed into the 

 Park in immense flocks, making short work 

 of the toyon berries, which had until then 

 been practically untouched. The Waxwings 

 then disappeared but the Robins are still 

 taking the remnants of a supply of pepper 

 berries that would normally have lasted 

 through the season. Waxwings have been 

 common in Whittier since late November, 

 but were not listed elsewhere until late in 

 January. Mountain Bluebirds are frequently 

 seen in open fields, as are also flocks of Pipits 

 and Horned Larks. Pine Siskins have been 

 seen swarming in the canons, feeding on the 



