SUPPLEMENT TO BIRDS OF ESSEX COUNTY 



93 



This species has changed in the last seven }cars from a very rare and some- 

 what accidental visitor to a summer resident. It is to be hoped that it has become 

 a regular breeder in the County. 



Mr. Arthur P. Stubbs' on June 25, 1913, while exploring the borders of the 

 Lynn marshes near Revere, discovered three Killdeer. Each year since, during 

 the breeding season, he has found Killdeer in this locality, his dates ranging from 

 April 25 to September 27. Although he has never found the eggs or young, their 

 continued presence during the season seems to indicate their breeding. ]\Ir. Stubbs 

 kindly notified me of his discovery and I visited tiie region on July 3 and 12, 1913. 



On the former date I found the largest number of Killdeer I have ever seen 

 together in the County. As I entered the marsh, nine birds got up together from 

 several places, united, and flew off in one flock, all crying out noisily. 



Mrs. Lidian E. Bridge- reported from one to five Killdeer at Clark's Pond, 

 Ipswich, on July 24 to August 28, 1912. These were probably migrants, but may 

 have nested in the County. I have seen from one to four there in other years. 

 On May 18, 1918, Mr. G. M. Bubier saw one Killdeer at Ipswich. 



Mr. S. W. Bailey^ reported a Killdeer at West Newbury on May 24, 1915, in 

 a pasture and three flying over on September 6 and others on October 18, 1915. 

 Throughout May and June, 1916, he found two to four adults frequently in 

 ploughed fields and pastures. It is probable these birds were breeding. 



On October 18, 1917, fourteen birds were reported at Peabody l.iy Mr. R. B. 

 Mackintosh and in May, 1918, a pair undoubtedly nested there. In 1919, Mr. A. 

 B. Fowler found a pair evidently nesting at this place. On March 30, 1919, Judge 

 Robert Walcott saw a Killdeer at Gloucester. It is a great satisfaction to be able 

 to report such an increase in the numbers of this interesting bird in the County. 



Dr. Allen* gives some earlier records by Damsell. He says : " The memorable 

 winter flight of these birds in 1888 [referred to in the original Memoir] was 

 noticed at Amesbury, where on December 4, four were shot, and two the following 

 day. In 1884 a bird was shot on the marsh in August, and in 1895 one is recorded 

 November 25." 



The Killdeer is a noticeable bird in tlie field both on account of its markings 

 and on account of its voice. It says kill-dec kill-dec very plainly. Its cries 

 resound through the marsh and are often varied by piercing tce-ars rapidly 

 repeated or by cries of ker ker kcr or ect cet cet. It is a noisy bird. 



In flight the white bar on the wings is very noticeable. Alighted, its long, 



1 Stuhbs, Arthur P. Bird-Lore, vol. 18, p. 364, 1916. 

 - Bridge, Lidian E. Auk, vol. 29, p. 537, 1912. 

 3 Bailey, S. W. Auk, vol. 34, pp. 207, 208, 1917. 

 •* Allen, G. M. Auk, vol. 30, p. 24, 1913. 



