FL ORENCE MERRIAM BAILE Y 1 7 



Mile Run, the Arsenal grounds and the reclaimed 

 Potomac Flats are all good places. The Falls 

 Church road is said to go through a rich bird section 

 and to include on its list Worm-eating Warblers. 

 Arlington Cemetery is particularly good for winter 

 birds, and the mouth of Hunting Creek, Anacostia 

 River and swamps, for water birds. 



On May 9, 1898, I noticed forty-eight species on a 

 circuit of a mile from the terminus of the I4th Street 

 car line down along Piney Branch and back through 

 Mt. Pleasant, eighteen species of which were seen 

 between the end of the car line and the I4th Street 

 bridge on Piney Branch. 



Before the bulk of the birds come north, one has to 

 pick out the most favorable places in order to see 

 much, but in May and June there will be plenty to 

 see and hear on almost any walk or ride if one selects 

 the hour and direction in reference to sun and wind. 

 For birds follow the sun, keep out of the wind, and 

 are little in evidence during the hot noon hours. In 

 the early morning the dark western side of the woods 

 will be silent and deserted while the side that faces 

 the sun will be alive with merry songsters. Go along 

 Piney Branch when the sun has dropped below the 

 southern wall and you will see little or nothing. Walk 

 up Rock Creek in a strong north or south wind and 

 you will fare still worse. The noon-day hours are to 

 be avoided almost as much as wind. To hear songs 

 and watch migrants, go early in the morning, earlier 

 as the days grow warmer. If the morning hours are 

 occupied, the late afternoon ones will be found profit- 

 able, as the birds sing again when the heat of the day 

 is over. In watching nests you have more latitude, 

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