88 THE AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 



DISTRIBUTION OF OUR BIRDS IN WINTER 



BY BROTHER ALPHONSUS, C. S. C. 



The following species were observed in winter from 1913-14 

 to 1916-17: Blue Jay, Crow, Red-headed Woodpecker, White- 

 breasted Nuthatch, Snowbird, Downy Woodpecker, Tree vSparrow, 

 Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Song Sparrow, Goldfinch, Screech Owl, 

 Bronzed Crackle, Meadowlark, Cardinal, Hairy Woodpecker, 

 Vesper Sparrow, Pine Grosbeak, Robin, Bluebird, Kildeer, Herring 

 Gull, Sparrow Hawk, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Snowflake, Canada 

 Goose, Tufted Titmouse. Three species not seen during this 

 period were Evening Grosbeak, Hell Diver, Northern Shrike. 



The Blue Jay had the largest number of records of all the 

 winter species that were found, 288. During the first season, 

 the Jay fell 10 records below those of the second winter, having as 

 a total 73 records. There was a difference of only one record 

 between the second and the third season, 83 being the highest 

 record for the four winters. In the fourth year, the Jay had only 

 50 records, January of that winter having had but 10 records, 

 which was an unusually small number for that month. Two 

 periods of absence occurred, one from the 10th to the 17th, the 

 other, from the 22nd to the 30th. During the first period there 

 was zero weather, but during the last seven days of absence the 

 weather was mild. From this I infer that cold was not the cause of 

 these two absences of the Jay during that January. 



The records of the Crow for the four years under consideration 

 show as the highest 77, and as the lowest 68. In December, 19 16, 

 and in January, 191 5, there were 19 records for each month; and 

 curiously enough, in some other years, those months had very 

 high records. In 1915, December had 31 records; in 1914, for the 

 same month there were 30 records. In 1913, January had 26, and 

 in 1 9 14, the same month had 29 records. I think a possible explana- 

 tion of the small records in December, 1916, and January, 19 15, 

 may be had from the fact that Crows move about in large flocks 

 in winter to find favorable feeding places, and may not be seen far 

 from their feeding grounds. Such a feeding place was discovered 

 by the writer in the winter of 19 16- 17 — this was a vegetable garden 

 where decaying plants afforded the Crows food to their liking. 



The White-breasted Nuthatch had a record remarkable for 



