10 



are more likely to be overlooked; also they are wilder on windy 

 days, when they can spread their wings and be borne away with 

 little effort. Cool days, with strong northwest winds, are un- 

 favorable for bird study. Warm, still days are best. Small 

 land birds usually seek shelter during heavy rains, but are 

 active during light, warm showers. 



The Spring Migration. 



Beginners in bird study usually choose the spring as the best 

 time for making the acquaintance of the birds; but it is well 

 to begin early in the year, when birds are few, and learn to 

 recognize each species as it comes. Gulls, wild ducks, and 

 geese begin to go up the rivers in March as soon as the ice 

 breaks up, and mergansers seek open places on the lakes. In 

 March and early April we may find birds on warm days or in 

 sheltered places. 



A partly wooded river valley will attract birds in April, when 

 the nights and many of the days are cold. Insects fly on warm 

 •days very early in April, in the sunny reaches of such a river. 

 In such spots the rusty blackbird appears. Pine warblers, 

 yellow palm warblers, and ruby-crowned kinglets may be 

 found near the w^ater catching flying insects after the manner 

 of flycatchers. On such rivers herons and bitterns sometimes 

 may be seen very early. The early sparrows feed in April on 

 the sheltered sides of wooded hills, in bushy lands, or on sunny 

 slopes of adjoining fields or pastures. In cold, windy weather 

 birds always prefer the sheltered spots where there is food. By 

 bearing this in mind you may find flickers, meadowlarks, fox 

 sparrows, grackles, blackbirds, cowbirds, robins, and blue- 

 birds in March. 



It is well to remember that the old males usually come first, 

 and the females and young birds later. 



May is the favorite month for the student of birds, for then 

 most of the migrating birds pass through New England on their 

 w^ay'to their northern breeding grounds. Then, also, most of 

 the resident summer birds appear and begin building. Most 

 .birds are then at their best in plumage and song. 



From the 3d to the 30th of May it is well to be continually 



