BIRDS OF THE CAMBRIDGE REGION. 



395 



248. Sialia sialis (Linn.). 

 Bluebird. 



Abundant transient visitor in early spring and mid-aiitimin and rather common summer 

 resident. Of probable occurrence in winter. 



SEASONAL OCCURRENCE. 



February- 20, 1887, a pair seen, Lexington, W. Fa.xon. 



March 6 — November 1. (Winter?) 

 November 20. 1887, one seen, Waverlcy, W. Faxon. 



NESTING DATES. 



April 15 — 25. 



The Bluebird is scarcely less familiar and confiding than the House Wren, 

 but, unlike that species, it is rather dependent for feeding grounds on wide, 

 open spaces of grass-covered or cultivated land. Nevertheless it used to breed 

 throughout Cambridge and even on Boston Common. Nor did it abandon 

 these urban haunts until forced to do so by the House Sparrows. As in the 

 case of the Wrens, the struggle was of comparatively short duration. It began 

 about 1875, and was practically ended by 1SS5, at least in the region lying to the 

 eastward of Fresh Pond and Mount Auburn. Throughout most of the country 

 situated to the westward of this region the Sparrows are not as yet sufficiently 

 numerous and generally dispersed to interfere very seriously with the Bluebirds. 

 The latter, indeed, continue to breed commonly, if somewhat sparingly, in many 

 of the more thinly settled parts of Arlington, Belmont, W^averley, Waltham and 

 Lexington, where their favorite summer haunts are old apple orchards bordering 

 on open fields or farm lands. At their seasons of migration Bluebirds still 

 occur rather numerously in the region lying between Lake View Avenue and 

 Fresh Pond as well as in that directly to the westward of Mount Auburn. 



Immense numbers of Bluebirds perished of cold or stan'ation in January 

 and February, 1895, at their winter homes in the South. For several succes- 

 sive summers immediately following this year the birds were exceptionally scarce 

 throughout most of their breeding ranges at the North, and in many localities 

 where they had previously nested abundantly literally none were noted. Very 

 few were seen in the Cambridge Region in 1895 and 1896, but they multiplied 

 rapidly here, as well as in most other parts of New England, during the next 



