18 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 86 



WINTER CONDITIONS IN NORTHERN OHIO, WINTER 



OF 1913-14. 



BY LYNDS JONES. 



Everybody in the middle sections of the United States will 

 remember the early November storm which resulted in block- 

 ing traffic and the destruction of miles of telegraph and 

 telephone lines. Any storm or considerable cold so early is 

 unusual and might therefore be expected to have its effect 

 upon the birds of the region affected. 



In the vicinity of Oberlin this storm marked the advent of 

 winter conditions as far as the smaller birds were concerned. 

 A good idea of the conditions which followed this storm will 

 be gained from the following extracts from a letter written by 

 Mr. Harry G. Morse, who resides at Huron, Ohio, at the 

 mouth of the river by that name, and within three miles of 

 the marshes which extend eastward from Sandusky. He 

 writes: "It has been rather quiet so far. I don't think the 

 mild winter has had much influence except in the case of the 

 ducks and gulls. I have found both Black Ducks and Mal- 

 lards since the first of the year, and Bonaparte's Gulls were 

 here until January 11. Saw several flocks of ducks flying 

 south today (February 8). 



"Song Sparrows and Flickers have been very scarce since 

 the first of January. I have a record of a Killdeer on 

 February 1, on the beach about a mile west of town. Of the 

 more uncommon winter visitors I have seen very little. 

 Found Snowflakes a few times last fall on the sand spit, and 

 a pair of Lapland Longspurs near the lake December 28. 



"Robins, Bluebirds and Rusty Blackbirds, which were 

 found all last Avinter, do not seem to have stayed this year. 

 Red-headed Woodpeckers are, however, fairly common, as 

 I have recorded about a dozen different birds within a radius 

 of three miles from town." 



My own experience is that of the usually common winter 

 birds. The Song Sparrow was entirely absent from most of 

 its usual winter haunts, while scattering Red-headed Wood- 



