234 JoxES, Bird Migyation in Iowa. \\ut 



also well filled with moving birds. But these periods of activity 

 cannot be compared to the March and May activity. They are 

 weak and scattering. The migrants from the north are so few, 

 compared with the spring migrants, that they make a poor 

 showing among the summer residents. 



September is the month of greatest activity in the fall migra- 

 tion, nearly half of the records of any year occurring in that 

 month. The remaining records are about equally divided 

 between October and November, with a scattering few in both 

 August and December, which may be regarded as unusual, if not 

 accidental. While the bulk of moving individuals is to be found 

 in September, that month's movements are in no way comparable 

 to the great May movement. It is not condensed, but scattered 

 over the entire month, as it was not in May. 



With the exception of a few species, and of the more common 

 migrants from the north, the birds do not move in such masses 

 in fall as in spring. They seem to grow gradually less in numbers, 

 until the last one journeys southward. There is a marked excep- 

 tion to this in November, when the first driving snow-storm 

 sweeps in from the north, bringing the Ducks and Geese in 

 clouds, accompanied by circling flocks of Cranes and Pelicans. 

 It is well worth frosted ears and cold feet to watch the huge 

 flocks and droves scurrying before the storm blasts, seeking a 

 shelter behind some woods in which to gain a hurried rest. 

 Often the night air is resonant with the notes of the birds which 

 are journeying to their southern winter homes. Sometimes they 

 .seem to become confused by the bright lights of the city, and fly 

 about overhead for some minutes before moving on. Such 

 ■occurrences are always during a dark night, or in thick weather. 

 I have noted the water birds in such situations more often than 

 any other birds. 



The last individuals of any species noted in the fall migrations 

 have been young of the year. After the bulk of the species has 

 departed, it has been almost impossible to find old males, or even 

 old females ; while any males at all are very scarce. Hence, I 

 conclude that the order of departure in fall is much the same as 

 that in spring — the old males leading, followed by the young 

 males and old females, the rear being brought up by the young 

 females. 



