36 Wood, Winter Birds in Wayrie Co., Mich. [j^^ 



SOME WINTER BIRDS OF THE SEASON 1908-9 IN 

 WAYNE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



BY J. CLAIRE WOOD. 



The winter of 1908-9 developed some ornithological features of 

 more than ordinary interest. The Evening Grosbeaks came nearly 

 to our northern border, while at the St. Clair Flats Mr. Bryant says 

 that the ducks, mainly Canvas-backs and Redheads, wintered in 

 countless numbers; their abundance exceeding that of any former 

 year within his recollection, and this statement is corroborated by 

 Mr. John Krauss, who also informs me that he caught three King 

 Rails near his hotel early in February, 1909, which are the first 

 he has seen in winter, though I know of a previous record from 

 that vicinity. 



Here, in Wayne County, we had a flight of Pine Siskins, and 

 more Redpolls than in any previous season, but a surprising scarcity 

 of other northern visitors, such as Snowflakes and Northern Shrikes. 

 The southward movement of Redpolls and Siskins began in early 

 October, before the least suggestion of cold or snow, but the Snow- 

 flakes did not appear until early December, and then only about a 

 dozen individuals were seen by Mr. Swales on Grosse Isle, and none 

 on the mainland until February 18, when large flocks came in the 

 wake of the most severe snow storm of the season and were gone on 

 the 21st. 



With an excess of certain northern visitors we would not expect 

 unusual numbers of such birds' as Song Sparrows and Meadow- 

 larks, but more were seen than during any previous year. This 

 was not due to abnormal meteorological conditions. During the 

 winter of 1906-7 I gave the birds an amount of attention equal to 

 the present season. Snowflakes and Northern Shrikes were com- 

 mon all winter. In December and January ten Song Sparrows and 

 one Meadowlark were seen, while in the corresponding months of 

 the present season I noted 41 of the former and about 125 of the 

 latter, and yet the weather conditions were very similar during the 

 two seasons. The mean temperature (Fahrenheit) was as follows, — 

 November 1906 and 1908 were both 40°; December 1900, 29° 



