470 PROCEEDINGS OF THE INDIANA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 



The Time Birds Get Up in the Morning. 



M. L. Fisher. 



The writer has always been curious to know at what time birds become 

 active in the morning and what species are astir first. The table which ac- 

 companies this article shows some observations which were made the last 

 of Jure and the first of July in various years. This time of year was chosen 

 because it is the time of maximum daylight and also the time when bird-life 

 is at its greatest aeti\4ty. 



Any one who wishes to take observations on the time when birds awaken 

 will have to plan to a.rise early himself. As will be seen from the data given, 

 one should be on the ground for observation by 3:00 o'clock. A place where 

 a large number of species of birds are likely to roost should be selected. One 

 cannot go from place to place while taking observations; he must choose a 

 place and stay there, and take all the observations which come to him at 

 that place. If the place seems unsuited another place can be chosen for 

 another morning. 



To some extent the time of awakening is dependent on the character of 

 the morning. A cold morning A\ith a chillj' uind will delay the activity of 

 the birds. A cloudy morning, thi*eatening rain, or one on which it is raining 

 ^^'ill also delay their mo\ements. Moonlight or the absence of moonlight 

 does not seem to make mucli difference, providing the sky is clear. So far as 

 observations has been made, the deep woods do not delaj'^ the awakening 

 of birds. In the table, the observations taken on .July 3, 1913, were taken 

 from a place where the timber was of rather lioavy stand and deep ravines 

 hindered the coming of daylight. 



Most of the observations recorded in the table were taken on the Purdue 

 University campus. On this campus many Robins and Grackles congregate 

 to roost. With birds the same as with men, it seems that some awake and 

 bestir themselves sooner than others; then to, it seems that with some birds 

 their first notes are but sleepy yawTis. For example, the following notes 

 were recorded concerning one particular observation: the first Rol)in chirped 

 at 3:15, again at 3:17, and at 3:25 it burst into full song, and a minute later 

 the robins all seemed to join in a grand chorus. This chorus continued until 

 3:50 when thej' began to fly to the ground and began to feed. The first 

 Crackle was heard at 3:19 then all was quiet until 3:50 when there was a 

 general disturbance among the hundreds in the trees and the chattering 

 began in earnest. It seems as though some one of their number had taken it 

 upon himself to awaken the entire companj' at 3:50, for apparently the whole 

 flock awoke and began to chatter all at once. This chattering lasted for twenty 

 minutes (4:10) when they began to fly away to feed. 



