Vol.XXVIIJ Wood, Winter Birds in Wayne Co., Mich. 37 



and 1908, 30°; January 1907, 26° and 1909, 29°. It is natural to 

 suppose that only exceptional high temperature and clear weather 

 induces the more hardy summer residents to linger into December 

 but this is not borne out by facts. November was decidedly un- 

 pleasant with a total wind movement of 11,474 miles, three inches 

 of snow and only six clear days. December 2 and 3 were the coldest 

 days of the month, except the 8th, and the snowfall for the month 

 was only 2.4 inches less than the average for 25 years, while January 

 was 1.3 inches more than the average. This meteorological sum- 

 mary was kindly furnished me by the local station of the United 

 States Weather Bureau. 



The flight of certain northern visitors in connection with unusual 

 numbers of two hardy summer residents presents an interesting 

 problem but this is further complicated by the occurrence of Bobo- 

 links and a Vesper Sparrow; two birds never before noted here in 

 winter. 



Everything considered, I cannot see where the birds were directly 

 influenced by temperature, nor does food scarcity explain the flight 

 of Siskins, for the bulk left an abundant supply here to pass further 

 south; in fact, the only case of evident cause was deep snow cover- 

 ing the food supply of the Snowflakes, and a second cause happens 

 when the lake freezes entirely over, forcing out the winter ducks. 



In compiling the follov»'ing list of winter birds I have considered 

 only the months of December and January, for the reason that I 

 was not afield enough in February to get a proper idea of relative 

 abundance. It includes only such birds as for some reason possess 

 a marked interest. The majority of permanent residents, ranging 

 from Bobwhite to Chickadee, are omitted, together with visitors 

 of unfailing winter occurrence, as the Ring-billed and Herring Gulls; 

 also, the ducks, though the following were more or less common: 

 Redhead, Golden-eye, Lesser and Greater Scaup and American 

 Merganser.^ In company with Mr. Herbert H. Spicer I devoted a 



1 It is not always possible to get satisfactory data on the local ducks. We will 

 take the Canvas-backs as an example. I know that more than five hundred were 

 taken last winter at the St. Clair Flats. This means that a hundred or more were 

 crippled and escaped by diving. April 18 the deputy game warden told me that 

 while crossing Baltimore Bay the previous day he counted 76 winged Canvas-backs. 

 All the ducks of this species able to make the journey had long since left for the north. 

 None of these cripples breed at the Flats, so far as I can learn, but they are present 



