V0L 1^9 XVI ] Geneml NoteS - 289 



A Note on the Decrease of the Carolina Wren near Washington. — 



The winter of 1917-1918 in the vicinity of Washington, D. C, with its 

 prolonged cold and unusual fall of snow, was a severe one for many birds, 

 a fact that was manifested especially in the case of the Carolina Wren 

 ( Thryoihoriis I. ludovicianus) . Near Washington Carolina Wrens increased 

 steadily in numbers in the period extending from 1912 to 1917, and during 

 the last two years of this time were common. Their abundance at Plum- 

 mer's Island, Maryland, was noticeable, and birds were seen or heard on 

 practically every visit to that vicinity. Through December, 1917, and 

 January, 1918 they remained in their usual numbers. February 1, during 

 a visit made to Plummers' Island immediately after a heavy snowfall I 

 found that the snow in the woods where it had not been drifted was sixteen 

 inches deep. Several Carolina Wrens were seen on this day. One was 

 observed climbing up the trunk of a red birch, where the bird broke open 

 the curling rolls of bark, in search for food, making a rattling, rustling noise 

 audible for some distance. Another was clambering about the eaves of 

 the cabin. Both of these feeding habits were more or less unusual. This 

 heavy snow covered the ground for a considerable period after this and 

 must have rendered food difficult to find. Immediately after February 1 

 the Carolina Wrens in the area under consideration disappeared, and the 

 supposition was that the greater part of them had perished. Only three 

 of four pairs were known to remain in the region between the end of the 

 carline at Cabin John's Bridge and Plummer's Island, while none were left 

 on the island property. The same decrease in number among these birds 

 was observed throughout the entire Washington region and when spring 

 opened it was found that there were only scattered pairs in a few areas. 



In a former note (published in ' The Condor,' 1913, pp. 120-121) I have 

 called attention to a similar occurrence in eastern Kansas, where other 

 species of birds in addition to Carolina Wrens were concerned. These 

 observations and others of a similar nature seem to show that the Carolina 

 Wren is a bird that may be considered resident in the strictest sense of the 

 word in regions where it is found. In many so-called resident species, 

 though the species as a whole is represented at all seasons individuals are 

 migratory and perform regular journeys each year. With the Carolina 

 Wren however, this does not seem to be true, as adidt individuals (in pairs) 

 frequent certain restricted areas throughout the year without reference to 

 season. The immature birds that have not yet become settled, wander 

 somewhat during spring and fall, and individuals may occur at this time 

 in cities or elsewhere outside of their normal haunts. These movements 

 however, are irregular, and seem at most to be restricted to short distances 

 when compared with the regular spring and fall movement found among 

 other birds of recognized migratory habits. It is by these restricted move- 

 ments that these Wrens extend their local range. 



At Plummer's Island one of these wanderers visited the island and 

 adjacent parts of the mainland on April 7 and worked restlessly about, 

 singing loudly. No others were observed during the spring and summer 



