THE AUK: 



A QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF 

 ORNITHOLOGY. 



Vol. XXIX. October, 1912. No. 4. 



THE FREEZING OF CAYUGA LAKE IN ITS RELATION 

 TO BIRD LIFE. 



BY ALVIN R. CAHN. 



Cayuga is the largest of seven, nearly parallel lakes which lie 

 in the central portion of New York State. They all extend in a 

 north and south direction, and either directly or indirectly connect 

 at the northern end with Seneca River. Numerous streams are 

 tributary to Cayuga at the south end; the two principal ones are 

 Fall Creek and the Inlet, both of which proved to be important 

 in their relations to bird life, since they furnished open water 

 throughout the period during which the lake was frozen. 



The conditions necessary for the complete surface freezing of 

 Cayuga Lake are intensely cold weather, and absolutely quiet 

 atmospheric conditions for a prolonged period. As Cayuga Lake 

 is forty miles long, with a surface area of 66.8 square miles, and 

 situated as it is in a trough between wind-swept hills, it is very 

 seldom indeed that the above conditions prevail for a sufficient 

 length of time to permit the complete closing of the lake. In the 

 present instance, the freezing was preceded by six weeks of ex- 

 tremely cold weather, the temperature dropping as low as sixteen 

 degrees below zero, and the entire period accompanied by high 

 north and northwest winds. Freezing would have occurred earKer 

 than it did except for the continued strong winds. When these 

 abated, the lake froze over entirely during a single night. 



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