y6 ■ The Wilson Bui.i.f.tin — No. 07. 



(\ilierlin inigrntioii dates are for arrivals April 21, departures May 

 4. Cedar Point arrivals :Nrarcli 30. Indk departures April 25. The last 

 seeji iu I'.MIT was Novemlier 10. 



2ti. tSixitiiht cli/pcafo. — Shoveller. 



Another relatively uueommon species. On April 6, 1902. and Sep- 

 tember 2."), 1S9"J, there were visitations to the Oberlin Water Works 

 i-ei.;ervoir. Small conipaiiies are usually seen at the east end ot the 

 marshes during late March and early April. Dates of occurrence 

 are too few and too variable to indicate the times of migration. 

 Gunners report it as regular but scarce at both seasons. The evi- 

 dence seems to point to a marked decrease in numbers during re- 

 oeut years. My experience with it has been that it prefers small 

 areas of open water in the narrower parts of the marsh. 



27. Ufiflla acuta. — Pintail. 



'I'his is still a connnon duck in the migrations, but its numbers 

 are certainly decreasing. Up to 1000 numbers were regularly record- 

 ed in their passage across the country almost anywhere, but since 

 that time practically none are seen except iu the marshes. There are 

 days when this is the commonest of the ducks, but the periods of 

 such abundance are short. Small flocks have visited the Oberlin 

 Water Works reservoir early in the morning, but left with the first 

 signs of the awakening of the populace. They are nervous and wary 

 always, but doubly so after a short experience with the gunners at 

 the marshes. They are usually seen in the companies which are made 

 up of Baldpates and Lesser Scaups, with a few others, in the middle 

 of an extensive open area near the mouth of Black Channel, or far- 

 ther west in the open Bay, where the vegetation reaches the surface. 



My earliest spring record is February 22, 1908, following a mild 

 winter, and the latest spring record is April 20, 1907. Fall records 

 are September 25, 1S99, to November 2G, 1907. 



2.S. Ai.v siioiisa. — Wood Duck. 



My experience witli this duck in this region indicates tliat the min- 

 imum numbers were reached from 1890 to 1001, and that since the 

 latter year it has been increasing itert-eptibly. During the three 

 years mentioned none were seen. In 1002 four were seen ; none in 

 190?> ; but since then it has been of regular occurrence. Taxider- 

 mists report a marked increase in the number received, and gunners 

 speak of an increase. Wliile no nests have been found there is every 

 other reason for lielieving that a few pairs breed within the limits of 

 the region. Stringent laws for the protection of this duck have proved 

 of little avail. 



