Bird Censuses. 



M. L. Fisher. 



The notes here recorded refer to the census taken on December 25th 

 each year and another taken the last of May in accordance with the plans 

 of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Biological Survey. 



The writer got his suggestion for a Christmas Census from a copy of Bird- 

 Lore which came into his h?nd in the year of 1907; since that time a census 

 has been taken nearly every year. Results of five of these censuses are 

 recorded in the table. Observations at Christmas time are very much 

 affected by weather conditions; a bright sunshiny morning brings out 

 practically all the bird life remaining in a vicinity, and they are easily dis- 

 covered, but a cold, raw, cloudy day keeps many species under cover 

 and they are not easily found. At this time of tbe j^eaj, one will find the birds 

 congregating along streams and sheltered hillsides clothed with timber. 

 An east and south exposure are favorite places for birds. One wall find very 

 few species in open country this time of year. The observations recorded in 

 table were taken in the vicinity of LaFayette on what is known as the north 

 river road leading to the 8tate Soldiers' Home and on the south river road. 

 Both areas are sheltered and have the exposure as indicated above. 



In this table it will be observed that the following species were observed 

 on but one day in the five observations recorded: HaAvk, Hairy Woodpecker, 

 Red-headed Woodpecker, Bronzed Grackle, Chewink, Winter Wren, Brown 

 Creeper, Chickadee, Golden Crowned Kinglet, Robin, Bluebird. The Blue- 

 bird, Robin, Chewink and Grackle are probably infrequent winter resi- 

 dents, but it is believed that the others are usually in residence, but were 

 not observed. 



It will be noticed that certain species have been seen practically every 

 year. The following have been recorded at least four times out of the five. 

 Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, CroAv, Junco, Song Sparrow, Cardinal and 

 Tufted Titmouse. 



The bird census taken the last part of May in co-operation with the 

 Bureau of Biological Survey was taken this year (1916) for the first time. 

 The area selected lies about thi-ee-fourths of a mile west of Purdue University 

 campus, consisting of about fortj^ acres. In this forty acres there are about 

 six acres of timber land, fifteen acres of alfalfa, about eight acres of corn, and 

 about eleven acres of oats. The alfalfa had not been cut when these observa- 

 tions were taken. One must be on the ground at about 3:00 o'clock if he is 

 to make accurate observations and he has to depend almost entirely upon his 

 ear for identifications. .lust before the bhds begin to fly away some can be 

 recognized by the eye. The method of taking the census is that of moving 



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