578 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



the fall; indeed, it is probable that a few individuals remain all 

 winter in favored places, particularly in the bottoms along Tippe- 

 canoe River. 



A good many breed about the lake, and several nests were 

 noted. The oak trees are favorite nesting sites. In 1902, a nest 

 was seen in an oak at the Chadwick hotel, 25 feet up. By June 

 19 the brood reared in this nest had gone and the old birds had 

 begun a second nest 25 feet up on the limb of another oak near 

 by. The building of this nest was watched for some time. The 

 robins got most of the building material at the side of the road just 

 west of the hotel, or in the edge of a pool near by. Both birds 

 worked very industriously ; the intervals between trips for building 

 material were very short, usually not exceeding one minute. The 

 nest was apparently nearly completed by June 20. 



Other nests were observed as follows : One in a willow on 

 south shore of Outlet Bay; one 22 feet up in a red oak near the 

 Miller cottage; one in a maple at roadside near the Moninger cot- 

 tage; and one in a white oak just south of the Bardsley cottage. 



In 1904, and again in 1906, the robins seemed to be more com- 

 mon than in former years. On December 8, many were seen in 

 deep woodland and on January 3, 1905, one was seen in a wood- 

 land swamp east of the lake eating berries of the winter holly, 

 Ilex verticillata. 



In 1907, robins were noted almost daily from September 23 to 

 October 23. In 1909, they returned from the south March 1. One 

 was observed November 18, 1911 ; and in 1913, one or more were 

 noted almost daily from September 5 to October 28. 



175. BLUEBIRD 



SIALIA SIALIS (Linnaeus) 



Perhaps the best known and best loved of all our native birds. 

 A common summer resident about the lake, arriving early in the 

 spring, even before all the snow has disappeared, and remaining 

 late in the fall and early winter; breeding in numbers in all suit- 

 able places, but most abundant during the spring and fall migra- 

 tions. Our definite records are as follows : 



In 1899, returned from the south March 4, and seen at various 

 times during the period of observation, July to October. On Oc- 

 tober 5, several were seen and heard flying over Shady Point 

 early in the morning and again later in the forenoon; they were 

 evidently migrating. Others were heard the next day. 



In 1900, a few were noted July 17; several were heard flying 

 south early on the morning of August 16, and several were seen 



