ORNITHOLOGIST 



— AND — 



OOLOGIST. 



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 Annum. 



PUBLISHED BY THE FRANK BLAKE WEBSTER COMPANY. 



Established, March, 1875. 



Single Copy 

 10 cents. 



Vol. XVII. 



HYDE PARK, MASS., JUNE, 1892. 



No. 6. 



Winter Bird Notes From South- 

 eastern Massachusetts. 



In compiling data wliicli I had collected for 

 use in the study of bird migration, I found a 

 series of notes on the occurrence of several 

 birds and which may throw a little light upon 

 the status of each as a winter resident in tliis 

 part of the state, and I have therefore 

 summarized the results for publication. The 

 notes from Highland Light, North Truro, were 

 furnished through the kindness t)f Mr. Willard 

 M. Small. Those from Taunton are the results 

 of the observations of Mr. Bradford A. Scudder. 

 The Naushon observer is Mr. A. D. Chisholm, 

 and the Wood's Holl notes were collected by 

 the writer. Unless specially stated, the 

 period included is from December 1, 1890, to 

 March 1, 189L 



1. The Flicker. This bird is ordinarily con- 

 sidered to be a regular winter resident in this 

 part of the state, and the notes here given are 

 only designed to show the actual status of the 

 species at this season. This, and indeed each 

 of the following species of land-birds, seems 

 to be rather more numerous in the Cape Cod 

 district, (Plymouth and Barnstable counties), 

 than at more inland points, possibly on 

 account of the dimimishing amount of snow, 

 and the somewhat higher mean temperature 

 in the immediate vicinity of the coast. At 

 all events, the Flicker is a comparatively 

 abundant bird in such localities, and the ratio 

 of its increase seems to be more pronounced 

 as we pass from west to east. The data shows 

 that there were fifty-three Flickers seen at 

 three stations during the month of December, 

 namely, at Taunton, eight birds on four days; 

 at Wood's Holl, seven birds on six days; and at 

 Highland Light, thirty-seven birds on twenty- 

 one days. 



The entire number of Flickers observed at 

 the various stations in January amounted to 



seventy-nine, viz., at Taunton, thirty-three 

 birds, on nine days ; at Naushon, thirteen 

 birds, on seven days; at Wood's Holl, eight 

 birds on as many days, and at Highland Light, 

 twenty-five birds on eleven days. 



Observations for February were not received 

 from Taunton, but were continued as usual at 

 the other stations. The aggregate number for 

 the month was forty- three birds. At Naushon 

 there were seven birds on four days; at Wood's 

 Holl, observations were conducted on each of 

 the twenty-eight days, but no Flickers were 

 seen; at Highland Light, thirty-six birds were 

 recorded on eleven days. 



It is, of course, probable, that in most cases 

 the same bird was seen on each recurring 

 observation, and was thus counted over several 

 times. Still, the mere fact of its presence at 

 the same spot on successive days, may be 

 regarded as demonstrating permanency or res- 

 idence, for, as Mr. Stone once said, "great 

 variation in numbers from day to day, and I 

 will add, from time to time, denotes activity, 

 (migration), while comparatively unchanging 

 numbers denote rest, (non-migration)." 



The mean or average numbers of Pigeon 

 Woodpeckers, as deducted from the monthly 

 sums, are seventeen for December, nineteen for 

 January and eleven for February. Assuming 

 that these means represent the ideal number 

 of Flickers to be met with at any locality with 

 ordinarily favorable surroundings during the 

 respective months for which they stand, it may 

 be considered in localities where the actual 

 number of Yellow Hammers is above the 

 average of the several stations, to denote more 

 than ordinary favorable conditions for their 

 existence; either on account of a greater food 

 supply, unusual protections from the extremes 

 of weather, or from their various natural 

 enemies; but if the actual numbers of the birds 

 present do not come up to the average, then 

 the conditions of environment might be con- 

 sidered unfavorable. In the immediate viciu- 



Copyright, 1892, by Frank Blake Webster Company. 



