BIRD STUDY 37 



in Corson County. On a wooded island in the Missouri River 

 in August, 1919, Black and White Warblers and Chickadees 

 were seen a number of times feeding together ; and in September, 

 1918, English Sparrows, Bronze Crackles and Robins were ob- 

 served at Vermillion roosting at night in the same trees. Prairie 

 Chickens gather in large flocks in winter and remain associated 

 until the next breeding season. Crows are seen in winter in 

 large flocks, and thousands of them often frequent the same 

 "roost" at night. Ducks and Gulls often gather in exceedingly 

 large flocks to migrate; and in the height of the migrating sea- 

 son one will often count half a dozen different species of Warblers 

 in as many minutes. They travel in large, loose companies of 

 many species. In the spring many kinds of Sparrows migrate to- 

 gether. Often the Juncos are associated with them ; and the 

 Olive-backed, Gray-cheeked, and Veery Thrushes are found in 

 company. 



In South Dakota there are perhaps twenty-five species 

 known as "residents," and yet few of these spend the winter in 

 the immediate vicinity of their summer homes. The Cardinal, 

 Quail, Screech Owl, Chickadee, Gray Ruffed Grouse, Canada 

 Jay, and perhaps Downy Woodpecker, would about complete the 

 list. The Cardinal both nests and winters at Vermillion. The 

 Quail seldom goes a mile from its nesting home. There is evi- 

 dence that Screech Owls do not go far from the place where they 

 were hatched. The same Chickadees that feed at your bird table 

 in winter will build their nest in your yard in summer; and 

 "Downy" may be seen in early autumn excavating his winter 

 home. 



But most of our "residents" doubtless migrate a little way. 

 Prairie Chickens raised in the northern part of the State, where 

 there is still much prairie grass and wheat stubble, gather in 

 flocks and drift to the cornfields of the southern part of the 

 State to pass the winter. Clay County raises few Prairie 

 Chickens, but feeds many large flocks when the ground is cov- 

 ered with snow farther north. The Prairie Sharp-tailed Grouse 

 nests in the western part of the State, but moves eastward more 

 or less to spend the winter. 



Crows, Hawks, Hairy Woodpeckers, and most Owls that 



