154 



Bird - Lore 



ruary 26, Song Sparrows were back and in 

 song where there had been no Song Sparrows 

 for weeks. The same day, as the sun went 

 down in a pinkish light with gray clouds 

 over the sky, and a warmer air dragged out 

 of the South, after two bright clear days, 

 eight Grackles were counted flying over. 

 The whistles of Meadowlarks were heard 

 again on February 28. 



Despite these prompt beginnings, it was 

 the general impression that early migrants 

 were behind schedule throughout the New 

 York Region. Robin and Chipping Sparrow 

 were unquestionably late in arriving in 

 numbers; an individual of the latter species 

 (Elizabeth, N. J., March 26, C. A. Urner) 

 being an exception. Garden City is a good 

 breeding station for the Flicker which 

 unquestionably does not winter there. The 

 occurrence of the first individual reported 

 March 25 this year (W. F. Nichols), is 

 therefore of interest. The species was noted 

 by the writer on the following day. 



With April, on the other hand, the tide 

 of birds was running ahead of the calendar, 

 as definitely evidenced by a small but well- 

 marked flight of Barn Swallows April 9. On 

 that day, which was warm and cloudy with a 

 strong southerly wind, the writer observed 

 one flying low, in an easterly direction over 

 the Hempstead Plains, L. I., and upwards of 

 half an hour later, two together followed the 

 same course. Two were noted flying north 

 near Englewood, N. J. (L. Griscom and L. 

 O. Williams). The species was seen near 

 Elizabeth, N. J. (C. A. Urner), and also one 

 was reported from the Bronx. Though not 

 generally met with, the Tree Swallow had 

 been present near New York considerably 

 earlier, for 200 to 300 were reported flying 

 north up the coast at Asbury Park, N. J., 

 March 26 (H. Thurston), and one or two at 

 Long Beach, Long Island, on the same day 

 (W. C.Starck). 



The unusual frequency of the Northern 

 Shrike through the winter is doubtless re- 

 sponsible for late spring dates for that bird, 

 April 9, Hempstead, L. I. (J. T. N.) and 

 April 14, Central Park, New York City 

 (Griscom). Snowy Owl and Iceland Gull 

 were last recorded about the Newark marshes 

 at Elizabeth (Elizabethport), April 1 (Urner). 



Iceland Gull on the Hudson and Saw-whet 

 Owl at Englewood April 16 (Griscom) are 

 late dates of interest. 



The spring flight of Ducks was very satis- 

 factory. The Green- winged Teal, a species 

 that has been rare in spring for many years, 

 was generally not uncommon. A Hooded 

 Merganser, was seen at Mastic, L. I., April 

 15; two Blue-winged Teal, one of them a 

 fine drake, at the same locality the next day 

 (J.T.N.). 



Other early dates of interest are: Engle- 

 wood, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, April 2 (E. R. 

 P. Janvrin and L. O. Williams); Elizabeth- 

 port, Green Heron, April 9 (Urner); Central 

 Park, Solitary Vireo, April n (Griscom); 

 Plainfield, N. J., Thrasher, April 16 (W. D. 

 W. Miller); Mastic, Henslow's Sparrow, 

 April 14, downy young Woodcock, April 17 

 (J. T. N.). 



A very large flock of Grackles (some 500) 

 at Englewood, April 16, were studied at close 

 range and many of its individuals, all that 

 could be definitely identified, were the 

 Bronzed Grackle (Griscom and J. M. 

 Johnson). 



At Upper Montclair, N. J., a 'winter' 

 Song Sparrow (No. 44699) after being taken 

 in the traps nine times beginning February 4, 

 paid its last recorded visit March 4 (the 

 last was March 6 in 192 1). A 'summer' Song 

 Sparrow (No. 47143, see January-February 

 Bird-Lore) was trapped again March 23, 

 after absence since October 16, 192 1, and has 

 been taken several times since (Howland). 

 Some Song Sparrows are obviously winter, 

 others summer residents, coming and going 

 on schedule. Will it be found that others 

 still are permanent residents? — J. T. Nichols, 

 New York City. 



Philadelphia Region. — No unusual 

 weather conditions were apparent until 

 April 8, 9, and 10. The temperature hovered 

 around 85 degrees on these days, which, 

 according to the local Weather Bureau was 

 a record-breaking heat-wave for any like 

 period during April since the Bureau had 

 been established. Vegetation, which up to 

 the 8th appeared normal, took a sudden 

 spurt and at this time (April 13) many shrubs 

 and trees appeared well clothed with leaves. 



