The Season 



431 



associated for the time with such perman- 

 ent residents as Nuthatches, Downy and 

 Hairy Woodpeckers, Brown Creepers, 

 Chickadees, and even an occasional Blue 

 Jay. In the earUer collecting days of the 

 writer, these heterogeneous autumn flocks 

 were fruitful sources of many fall speci- 

 mens. Tamarack swamps, growing as cir- 

 cular fringes of trees around central open 

 areas, were favorite haunts, and as the 

 birds went round and round it was an 

 easy matter, by heading them off by quick 

 movements to and fro across the open 

 space, to become fully acquainted with the 

 entire personnel and many a choice find 

 in species or new plumage was the result. 

 With the falling of the leaves in late Sep- 

 tember and early October these parties 

 are broken up and the migrating portions 

 pass on their way to their winter homes in 

 the South. 



In view of the limited numbers that were 

 observed in this locality last spring, it was 

 interesting to see the abundance of White- 

 throated Sparrows, Juncos, Fox Sparrows, 

 and Myrtle Warblers that passed here this 

 fall. These irregularities in the seasonal 

 representation of birds are rather puzzling 

 problems. 



A word in regard to the Ducks this fall. 

 At the opening of the season in mid-Sep- 

 tember but very meager bags were secured 

 at all i)oints of the state, and it was the 

 opinion of both hunters and guides that 

 local Ducks were less numerous than 

 usual. Just at this writing it is reported 

 that the northern birds are coming down 

 in considerable numbers but it is too early 

 to report in regard to relative abundance. — 

 Thos. S. Roberts, MI)., University of 

 Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn. 



Oberlix Region. — Purple Martins left 

 the vicinity on the last day of August. 

 Baltimore Orioles were in full song until 

 the middle of September. Chimney Swifts 

 left September 7, which is unusuall\- carl\- 

 for them to go. 



Olive-backed Thrushes arrived on Sep- 

 tember 8 in numbers. On October 7, the 

 first Ulack-throatcd (Ircen and Ha\ 

 breasted Warblers were noted, and, on 



October 14, the first Hermit Thrush, 

 Myrtle Warbler and Slate-colored Junco. 

 Red-breasted Nuthatches and White- 

 throated Sparrows were first noted on 

 September 29, but they probablj- arrived 

 a few days earlier than that. 



It has not been possible for the writer to 

 keep careful note of the birds during the 

 summer and autumn, but the general im- 

 pression which he has gained is that the 

 singing of most of the Sparrows and the 

 Orioles has continued much later than 

 usual, and that the departure of the insect- 

 eating birds, notably the Swifts and Swal- 

 lows, came much earlier than usual — 

 which latter was the case last year. 



Birds have been about as numerous as 

 usual during the summer, and Robins and 

 Bronzed Crackles have been so abundant 

 that many hundred dollars worth of gar- 

 den fruits and corn must be credited to 

 their insatiable appetities. English Spar- 

 rows damaged the wheat to a less extent 

 than usual. — Lynds Jones, Oberlin, Ohio. 



Kansas City Region. — The most not- 

 able event of the season was the finding of 

 a nest of Blue Grosbeaks about a mile 

 east of the southeast corner of the city. 

 The nest was 10 to 12 feet from the 

 ground, in a peach tree, and contained 

 young. The owner of the orchard would 

 not allow of a close inspection of the nest, 

 but the bobbing heads of at least three 

 young could be seen in open-mouthed 

 clamor for food on each arrival of the 

 female. The male sang almost continu- 

 ously for nearly an hour, and came near 

 the nest several times with food, but was 

 too timid at our presence to feed the young. 

 This bird, like the Bewick's Wren, is 

 known to be extending its range northward 

 in western Missouri, but this is the first 

 authentic nesting record for the Kansas 

 City region. It has been observed in this 

 vicinity only twice previously. 



.\s reported in previous notes from this 

 district, the increase in Ducks has been 

 very noticeable since the new law went into 

 ctTcct. Especially is this true of the species 

 that formerly nested here. Fortunatcl.w 

 tlu-y are still able to find suitable nesting- 



