Notes on Some Adirondack Birds 



By George Chahoon 



OST of our Adirondack birds are migratory, passing their breed- 

 ing season in summer with us, and then leaving for warmer 

 climes. In addition to the climatic reasons for this migration 

 the question of food supply is doubtless an important factor, for 

 while they might stand the severity of our winters, the insectivorous birds 

 could get no food when our ground was covered with snow and ice, and in 

 proof of this, as a rule, the omnivorous migratory birds are the first to come 

 in the spring and the last to leave in the fall. 



In 1878 1 began making notes of the arrival of the Robin, Blue Bird and 

 Swallow; these notes have been made every spring, mostly by myself, but 

 during my absence by some member of my family, and were all taken at Au 

 Sable Forks. The earliest date for the Robin is March 10th, for the Blue 

 Bird, March 7th and for the Swallow, April 4th. The latest date for the 

 Robin is April 7th, for the Blue Bird, April 7th and for the Swallow, April 

 25th. The average date for the Robin, March 28th, Blue Bird, March 26th, 

 and the Barn Swallow, April 15th. 



In every year the first Robins to come are males, and this was true with 

 f he Blue Birds, excepting two years, when I saw both male and female birds 

 on the same day. The sex of the Swallow is not easily determined, and I am 

 not sure about them; and while I have no notes to which I can refer about 

 other birds, my general observation has been that males come first and are 

 followed in a few days by the females ; and that the courtship and mating is 

 all arranged after their arrival. My observations have been quite careful 

 and I think they are full enough to go far towards establishing this fact.. Of 

 course, there will be exceptions and our observations are necessarily imper- 

 fect, for it is not probable that we happen to see the very first bird that comes. 



the robin. {Merula migratoria.) 



Owing to its numbers, the sweetness of its song, and the friendly famil- 

 iarity of its habits, there is no bird more generallv known or more univer- 

 sally liked than our common Robin. Every year he sings for us our praises 

 to the coming spring from the tallest limb of the elm, and he hops across 

 our lawn with a cuteness that forces a hearty welcome ; and, differing from 



