8 Massachusetts Audubon Society 



BIRDS OF THE MOOSE HILL SANCTUARY. 

 By Harry G. Higbee, Bird Warden. 



To spend a few hours among the birds in any locality is always a 

 pleasure. To spend a whole day among those of the Moose Hill Bird 

 Sanctuary at Sharon was the special delight of many bird enthusiasts on 

 the occasion of the Audubon Society "Bird Day," Saturday, May 18th. 



My own "day" on this occasion might be said to have started "the 

 night before," as my companion and I arrived at the old farmhouse about 

 11 P. M. on Friday. Supper being over shortly after midnight, we strolled 

 out upon the ledge which overlooks the broad expanse of valley and hills 

 to the south and east. It was a beautiful night, and occasionally the 

 chirping of passing migrants overhead came drifting down to our ears. 

 Whip-poor-wills called vociferously, and now and then an oven-bird burst 

 forth in an ecstasy of song, as if disturbed in some sweet dream. On 

 nine different occasions within an hour, coming from various parts of 

 the woods, did we hear this burst of melody commonly known as the 

 "flight song" of the oven-bird. On none of these occasions, however, did 

 the performer mount into the air, as it so often does when this song is 

 given just after sunset in the dusk of a summer's evening. 



Shortly before four o'clock on Saturday morning we were again out 

 on the ledge, this time ensconced in our blankets to listen for the waking 

 birds and to watch the coming of the dawn. Venus shone resplendent in 

 the southeast; overhead the stars were brilliant, and there was every 

 promise of a good day. Our thermometer registered sixty degrees, and 

 there was a light westerly breeze. 



Aside from the whip-poor-wills, the tree swallows were the first 

 birds to be heard. They were twittering and flying about at four o'clock — 

 an hour and a half before sunrise. A towhee called at 4.10, and a field 

 sparrow came next at 4.15. Five minutes later we could distinguish 

 faint streaks of approaching dawn over the eastern hills. Soon we heard 

 an oven-bird, and, at half past four, a brown thrasher and a Maryland 

 yellowthroat. Two minutes later a rose-breasted grosbeak sang, and at 

 4.35 the robin chorus started. Then came the songs of the wood thrush, 

 scarlet tanager and hermit thrush. At 4.45 the hills across the valley 

 were becoming visible and it was just light enough to see to write. A 

 prairie warbler and a chestnut-sided warbler were heard at this time, 

 followed closely by the redstart, catbird, Nashville warbler and black 

 and white warbler. The last whip-poor-will call was heard at 4.50 — 

 forty minutes before sunrise. The phoebe, pheasant, crow, indigo bunt- 

 ing and Baltimore oriole were next noted in the order given. Then came, 

 within a few minutes, the least flycatcher, yellow-billed cuckoo, red-eyed 



