€0 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



winged Scoters and Holboell's Grebes were moving during the 

 latter half of the month. The bird wave on the 26th included 

 many land birds; Robins, Phnebes, Fox, Song, Vesper, and 

 Savannah Sparrows, and a few Field Sparrows. Most of the 

 boreal winter birds had moved on into the North by April first. 

 Tree Swallows, which usually arrive very early at Plymouth, 

 Massachusetts, were there by the 19th in large flocks. But 

 it was not until the 26th that this species was widely reported 

 in Massachusetts. Cowbirds had wintered locally in large 

 numbers on Cape Cod. Some appeared in migration March 1 

 on Block Island. One was reported on the 8th from Maine. 

 An immense flock of Bronzed Crackles moved along the Mas- 

 sachusetts coast. Mockingbirds had been noted all winter in 

 unusual numbers along the seashore. A Canada Jay passed 

 the winter near Boston. On the 28th a Murre was picked up 

 dead on the Massachusetts coast, the second recent authentic 

 record for the State. 



April, 1922. 



In southern New England April was cool and backward with 

 excessive rains and floods caused by rain and melting snow. 

 There were but few warm days. During the warm periods 

 bird migration moved rapidly; in cool weather these move- 

 ments were less noticeable. 



A Retrograde Movement. — During the cold wave and snow- 

 storm which began on the last of March, Canada Geese were 

 seen flying southward in New York State, along the Connecti- 

 cut Valley and in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. In this 

 county, also, large numbers of small birds flew south during 

 the storm, and many returned after it had passed. In the 

 Connecticut Valley region birds from the hills seemed to con- 

 centrate in the valleys, while swarms of birds apparently 

 retreated to the coast of Connecticut. A foot of snow with a 

 severe drop in temperature proved too much for many birds. 

 All over southern New England flocks of Fox Sparrows, Juncos 

 and Song Sparrows, checked or turned back in migration, 

 gathered wherever food could be found. Thousands of birds 

 sought shelter in barns, cellars and open sheds. 



Birds Die of Starvation and Cold. — Many died of starvation. 

 Others, fully fed and apparently in good condition, were found 

 dead. A farmer reported 25 dead birds about his buildings. 



