24 THE BIRD-LIFE OF A YEAR, 
JULY. 
The full development of the bird year is attained 
in June, and as early as the first week in July, when, 
among some migratory birds, there are evidences 
of preparation for the journey southward, the sea- 
son begins to wane. The young of certain species 
which rear but one brood have now left the nest, 
and, accompanied by their parents, wander about the 
country. In localities which we had thoroughly 
explored in June, we may therefore find species not 
-met with before. In some cases, these families join 
others of their kind, forming small flocks, the 
nucleus of the great gatherings seen later. Ex- 
amples are Grackles, Red-winged Blackbirds, and 
Tree Swallows. The latter rapidly increase in num- 
ber, and by July 10 we may see them, late each 
afternoon, flying to their roosts in the marshes. 
During the first week in the month we shall also 
find that certain birds have concluded their season 
of song. : 
Bobolinks and Red-winged Blackbirds are rarely 
heard after the tenth of the month; their young are 
reared, the cares of nesting-time have passed, and, 
with other one-brooded birds, they begin to renew 
their worn breeding plumages by molting. After the 
fifteenth we miss the voices of the Veery, Orchard 
and Baltimore Orioles, Chat, Brown Thrasher, and 
others. But in place of the songs of these more 
prominent members of the bird choir, we notice the 
calls of certain young birds who, long after they 
have left the nest, are still dependent on their par- 
ents; thus the squawkings of young Crows and trem- 
