10 Massachusetts Audubon Society 



chusetts. Foxes are universally reported numerous and here and there a 

 gray lynx or wildcat is noted south to Connecticut and Cape Cod. 



The host of predatory mammals and large birds of prey, together 

 with the inclemency of the weather is fast reducing the number of grouse 

 and bob-whites. In most of New England these birds were scarce in the 

 hunting season, though there were spots where they were common. There 

 will be few left in the spring for breeding stock. 



Shrikes, or butcher birds, seemed to grow more numerous as the winter 

 advanced. A few migrant shrikes were noted this month in northern 

 Connecticut, and one on Nantucket. Mice are mostly concealed by snow, 

 small birds generally are scarce, and shrikes are concentrating in villages 

 and cities, where they feed largely on English sparrows. Blue jays have 

 been fairly common. Canada jays have been reported, two from Bristol 

 County and two from Worcester County, Massachusetts. Crows have gravi- 

 tated mainly toward the coast to large roosts. A few kingfishers have been 

 wintering near open water in Maine, New Hampshire, Masssachusetts, 

 Rhod6 Island and Connecticut. Flickers and meadowlarks are trying to 

 pass the winter in New England, but if the larks last through the winter 

 it will be because of food put out for them. There are still some song, 

 swamp and tree sparrows along the coast from northern Massachusetts to 

 Long Island. 



The crow blackbirds and rusty blackbirds reported in southern New 

 England in January have dwindled during the winter, but these and cow- 

 birds are still noted on Long Island. The catbirds on Cape Cod disap- 

 peared late in December and have not been noted since. A single towhee 

 and a brown thrasher have been reported in Massachusetts, and apparently 

 mockingbirds are wintering in all the New England States. There is a 

 notable and general scarcity of juncoes, nuthatches, chickadees, woodpeckers, 

 tree sparrows, myrtle warblers and winter birds generally. Pine grosbeaks, 

 siskins, cedar waxwings and redpolls are few and local. Purple finches re- 

 main in small flocks from Maine to Connecticut, where sunflower seeds 

 are fed. 



Only two Acadian chickadees, two red-breasted nuthatches and one 

 flock of white-winged crossbills have been reported from New England 

 this winter, and people as far south as Pennsylvania note a similar though 

 lesser scarcity of common and northern winter birds. The sea islands, 

 with a somewhat milder climate, may be excepted from this statement; on 

 long Island, meadowlarks, starlings, snow buntings, field sparrows, song 

 sparrows and tree sparrows are reported common or abundant. Robins 

 are still noted in every New England State. Bluebirds seem to have dis- 

 appeared although a few usually winter in southern New England. One 

 only has been reported since the cold weather of December. No Bohemian 

 waxwings or evening grosbeaks have been noted since late in December. 

 Birds reported as dead or dying of cold and starvation are: Briinnich's 

 murre, little auk, bob-white, black duck, screech owl, Acadian owl, star- 

 ling, robin, mockingbird and English sparrow. 



The comparatively large number of dead starlings and Acadian owls 

 reported indicates that other species remaining here must have died as 

 starlings and owls are hardy, resourceful birds. Dead starlings and small 

 owls are more likely to be discovered than birds of the woods and fields, 

 as they seek the shelter of buildings and thick trees about houses in in- 



