Vol. XXII 



1905 



I Wood & Frothingham, Birds of An Sable Valley. 39 



NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF THE AU SABLE 

 VALLEY, MICHIGAN. 



BY NORMAN A. WOOD AND EARL H. FROTHINGHAM. 



The recent discovery of the breeding of Kirtland's Warbler in 

 the valley of the Au Sable River, Mich., has given that region a 

 peculiar interest from an ornithological standpoint. The fact that 

 this bird has remained so long unknown indicates that the bird 

 life of the vicinity has been very little studied, and observations 

 upon it should be of value. 



These observations were made during two trips undertaken by 

 Mr. T. G. Gale and the writer as follows : On June 13, 1903, we 

 drove from West Branch, Ogemaw Co., Mich., to the Au Sable 

 River, and stopped at the home of James Parmalee, three miles 

 north of the village of Luzerne in Oscoda County. Exclusive of 

 the river valleys, the country traversed is typical of this region. 

 It consists of wide sand and gravel plains varied by morainal 

 ridges and marshy depressions, and extensively dotted with burnt 

 stumps and logs, which identify it as "old pine lands." Large 

 areas are almost without ground cover ; in others jack and Norway 

 pines occur in scattered clusters interspersed with scrub scarlet 

 oak and aspen, while the ground is hidden by thick growths of 

 sweet fern, blackberry, and huckleberry bushes. The barrenness 

 of the soil is attested by numbers of deserted farms. 



At the river valley we found four general types of vegetation, 

 each apparently dependent upon drainage and the elevation of the 

 site above* the river. The lowest of these occur on limited areas 

 of bottom land, and is largely, composed of elms and ashes, with 

 a thick undergrowth of berry bushes and seedling hardwoods. 

 Among the birds noticed in this vegetation were, Chestnut-sided 

 and Black and White Warblers, Cedar Waxwings, Wood Pewees, 

 Great Crested Flycatchers, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and Song 

 Sparrows. 



About ten or fifteen feet above the level of the river is a relatively 

 dry terrace on which scrub oak and sweet fern grow in abundance. 



