Harris—Birds of the Kansas City Region. 215 
the shrubbery of the yards. In any open space, such as Penn 
Valley Park, Mount Washington or Forest Hill Cemetery, a 
large number of migrants may be found. Swope Park is so ex- 
tensive and so varied in character that almost every bird be- 
longing to the Kansas City region may be found there either 
breeding, wintering or passing through. A census of the birds 
in Swope Park, made by Mr. A. E. Shirling, includes 150 spe- 
cies, of which 73 species, represented by 2,025 singing males, 
bred within the borders of the Park. 
The region about Kansas City probably compares favorably 
with any section of the country in the number of birds that 
are found at different seasons of the year. In only one respect 
is the region unfavorable for certain groups of birds; it lacks 
extensive marshes or reedy lakes where Rails, Marsh Wrens 
and Bitterns could find the shelter in which they breed. There 
are a few places, chiefly near the Missouri River, where such 
birds have been found. In Platte County the shallow river- 
lakes, such as Bean Lake, and Sugar and Mud Lakes at Ar- 
mour, are covered in part with a growth of ecat-tails. Here 
Gallinules, Least Bitterns, Black Terns and Yellow-headed Black- 
birds are fairly common. 
The increase of ducks and geese, since the passage of the 
Federal Migratory Bird Law, has been noticeable. More ducks 
have passed through, and, in many localities, several species 
are remaining to breed, which formerly were driven off by 
spring shooting. 
The larger birds, those which were hunted, and the birds of 
prey which depend on the game birds for food and were them- 
selves a mark for gunners, have diminished to a deplorable 
extent. All the earlier naturalists noted the abundance of 
waterfowl along the Missouri, and of game birds on its banks. 
Canada Geese nested in the Missouri bottoms in the days of 
Audubon, Wild Turkey and Prairie Chicken were everywhere 
common. Eagles and Fish Hawks built bulky nests in the tall 
trees in the bottom lands; Duck Hawks and Ravens had their 
homes in the cliffs. 
Several species once plentiful or even abundant are now ex- 
tinct, either in the whole country, or in the region covered by 
this list. The Passenger Pigeon and the Paroquet have van- 
