Winter Conditions in Northern Ohio 19 



peckers were to be found. Pine Siskins, Redpolls, Snow- 

 flakes, Lapland Longspurs, Prairie Horned Larks, Horned 

 Larks, IMeadowlarks, jMourning Doves, Northern Flickers, 

 Kobins, Bluebirds, and Bronzed Grackles Avere in about the 

 usual number in and around Oberlin. Reliable reports of 

 Evening Grosbeaks and Snowy Owls were received. 



The regular resident birds seemed to be in their usual 

 numbers, but Chickadees, Downy Woodpeckers, and Blue Jays 

 were more concentrated in town and were hard to find in 

 the country. No Carolina Wrens have been recorded since 

 October, but Cardinals are rather more numerous than in 

 former winters. 



The natural conclusion, judged from the past winter, is 

 that an early storm of snow accompanied with cold, drives the 

 smaller migratory birds south, but does not seem to affect 

 much the larger birds which are inclined to tarry until the 

 lakes and streams are ice-bound. Thus the Canvasback ducks 

 remained in Sandusky harbor all winter until the severest 

 cold of the winter in late February closed the water com- 

 pletely. It is also interesting to note that the Herring Gulls, 

 which were fed at the wharves of Sandusky during that long 

 cold winter when they must have starved otherwise, congre- 

 gated there again this winter just as soon as the ice closed 

 the lake, although two winters of open water had intervened. 



It is apparent that we know as little about the winter move- 

 ments and general habits of birds as of any phase of Orni- 

 thology. The problem seems to be capable of solution just 

 as soon as we can organize the winter study in a way which 

 will make it possible for students in one section of North 

 America to learn from those studying in other sections what 

 the conditions are which are known to affect the birds and 

 the known food materials. This ought to be possible every 

 winter, but since it appears not to be, ought not the members 

 of the Wilson Club who live in the ]\Iississippi Valley and 

 north to organize for such a campaign of study during the 

 coming winter? It is certainly worth considering with care. 



