Hxhibic in Chicago Natural History Museum 



Winter Birds of Lake Michigan 



Winter birds in northern latitudes are hardly less interesting than those of other 

 seasons. True, the dynamic activity of the breeding and migration periods is ended or 

 curtailed, but with the advent of inclement weather new associations of bird life are 

 formed, the use of special adaptations is more evident, and various more northern 

 species congregate in great numbers. 



The seasonal distribution of many birds is strongly influenced by Lake Michigan 

 and similar large bodies of water. Inland lakes as well as the northern sea coasts are the 

 winter haunts of countless ducks and gulls driven southward by the approach of freez- 

 ing temperatures. Every fall the Chicago lake-front is visited by migratory waterfowl 

 en route to wintering grounds in the south. Some hardier species, like the Canada 

 goose, the baldpate, the ring-necked duck, the canvas-back, the scaup, and the buffle- 

 head, usually linger until late Octoljer or November before continuing southward. 

 In mild winters a few individuals may remain until spring. 



Other northern waterfowl regularly winter in great abundance in the Chicago area. 

 Each year from November onwards thousands of American and red-breasted mergan- 

 sers, old-squaws, and American golden-eyes enliven the lake-front during even the 



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