Vol. xxxvn 



1919 



Erichsen, Birds of Liberty County, Ga. 381 



references to the birds of Georgia, that I contribute these few notes. 

 There has recently come to my notice an article by H. B. Bailey 

 in the 'Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club,' Vol. 8, Janu- 

 ary, 1883, consisting of notes on a collection of eggs made in 

 Mcintosh and Wayne counties, Georgia, by Dr. S. W. Wilson. 

 These counties adjoin Liberty County on the south and southwest 

 respectively, and each presents a topography differing but little 

 from that of that county. Dr. Wilson evidently made some errors 

 in identification and also in his notes relating to nesting sites 

 selected and material used in nest construction by several of the 

 species he met with. 



The avifauna of Liberty County is unusually varied and abun- 

 dant, particularly as regards the water birds, and it is with regret 

 that my short residence there would not permit of my securing 

 sufficient notes on which to base a more complete list, including 

 migrants and winter visitants. 



Weather conditions were favorable almost the entire spring and 

 summer, admitting of nearly continuous field work which obviously 

 has a considerable advantage over desultory observations where 

 much work is to be done in a single nesting season. 



It may be well to make a few general remarks on the topography 

 of the region under consideration and give some points of informa- 

 tion in regard to the conditions affecting the distribution of summer 

 bird life within the county. Although primarily intended as an 

 exposition of some of the breeding species, it may not be out of 

 place to add a few remarks on its bird life in general. With a 

 combination of favorable topographical features the avifauna of the 

 county is, as before stated, rich in species; the coast line of approxi- 

 mately ten miles attracting numerous water birds, while the 

 swamps, uplands, cultivated lands and pine barrens, the latter 

 mostly free from undergrowth, all present conditions suitable for 

 many species of land birds. The region covered by this paper also 

 includes St. Catherine's Island, a large sea island, which presents 

 topographical features differing in no essential particulars from 

 those of the mainland. This island and its surrounding waters 

 are favorite resorts for large numbers of Ducks, Shorebirds, Herons, 

 Gulls and Terns, as well as for many species of the smaller land 

 birds. 



