yo NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



While many species of birds can undoubtedly travel the whole width 

 of this State in a single da}-, there is every reason to believe that most of 

 them journey by easy stages, often stopping to feed and rest by the way. 

 During the migration season individuals of different species are often seen 

 about the same spot for several days before they continue their journey. 

 The writer has noticed this occurrence in the case of the Fox sparrow, 

 Lincoln sparrow, Hennit thrush. Northern water-thrush. Solitary sand- 

 piper and many other species, when single individuals or small companies 

 could be found for a week or more at certain chosen spots under circum- 

 stances which proved be>'ond doubt that the same birds were seen each 

 day. A further development of the warm weather which brought them 

 or the arrival of a fresh low center with sotithwest breeze was usually the 

 signal for their departure. But there is no definite means of determining 

 how long the next .stage of a bird's journey may be. Professor Cooke has 

 shown that the average advance of such birds as the Oriole as a species is 

 little more than 25 miles per day, but it may often be that the last flight 

 of an individual, and even its average flight while migrating, is con- 

 siderably greater. Most species of our common birds fly at the rate of 30 

 to 40 miles per hour, and many like pigeons, ducks, plover and snipe at the 

 rate of 50 to 70 miles per hour, and when under way they undoubtedly 

 proceed for several hours without rest. 



Manv of the smaller, more timid birds, migrate bv night. This is especi- 

 ally true of species which live habitually under cover of woods and thickets, 

 like thrushes, warblers, vireos, wrens, rails and sparrows. Their calls 

 are often heard as they are passing overhead and they may be seen by 

 looking through a telescope or field glass focused on the moon as they cross 

 in front of its bright surface. Rains, or high head winds, cause them to 

 descend and so the country where they are overtaken by the storm will 

 be filled with fresh arrivals in the morning. The Woodcock and Whip- 

 [)oor-will, which are largely nocturnal in habits, perform the migratory 

 flight entirely at night Species like the hawks, blackbirds, swallows, 

 bluebirds and robms which are accustomed to wide flights across the open 



