The Avifauna of the Lake Erie Islands. 99 



Wrens and Bluebirds, although they were much less common 

 than in Ohio. In the bits of woodland and in great trees left 

 in the open fields were the nests of Bald Eagles, and Red- 

 shouldered and Red-tailed Hawks, and Great Horned Owls 

 were also found in the woods. 



Part II. 



MIGRATION CONDITIONS. 



During the migrations there were four, or possibly five, 

 ditterent groups. Some worked south by stages, resting at 

 night in the swamps, others followed the beach, or flew out 

 over the water, some flew, right out the point from base to tip, 

 either continuing their flight all the way, or lighting in the 

 trees occasionally to rest; but by far the greatest number of 

 birds worked along gradually through the woods, only start- 

 ing in their flight when they reached the limit of shrubby 

 vegetation. These are the birds that cannot often be seen in 

 the act of migrating, and which Pelee Island is especially 

 suited to catch in the act. 



The Swamp-frequenting migrants were the Pied-billed 

 Grebe, Mallard, Coot and Black Duck, where there was open 

 Vv'ater; the Wilson's Snipe, Yellow-legs, and Solitary Sand- 

 piper on the mudflats. The Least, Semipalmated, Baird's and 

 Spotted Sandpiper and the Killdeer and Semipalmated Plo- 

 vers occasionally visited the mudflats, although usually stay- 

 ing on the beach. The Little Blue Heron, a stragg'ler from 

 the south, may as well be mentioned here. Its occurrence so 

 far north is rare, but not unprecedented. The Rails and Her- 

 ons were probably migrating, but we could not detect their 

 movement with certainty. 



Over the water migrated the Bonaparte Gull and Caspian 

 Tern, and along the beach came a host of shore-birds. The 

 Dowitcher, Knot, Baird Sandpiper, Hudsonian Godwit, and 

 Black-bellied Plover were some rarities that were seen ; the 

 Baird Sandpiper in considerable numbers. The Least, Semi- 

 palmated, and Spotted Sandpiper, the Sanderling, the Ruddy 

 Turnstone, and the Piping, Semipalmated and Killdeer Plo- 



