The American Midland Naturalist 



PUBLISHED BI-MONTHLY BY THE UNIVERSITY 

 OF NOTRE DAME, NOTRE DAME, INDIANA 



VOL. V. MAY-JULY, 1018. NO. 



9, 10. 



Migration of Our Birds in the Spring of 1917. 



BY BROTHER ALPHONSUS, C. S. 



The writer made his highest record for the spnhg^&gffati#iuS e,Ni 



of our birds this year. More extended observations7*^!rTd—tht 

 assistance of an excellent ornithologist, Mr. John C. Birdsell Jr., may 

 account for the notable increase in the number of species found. 



In nine years of observation in spring, the dates of migration 

 for the Robin were almost equally divided between February and 

 March. The species arrived four times in February and five times in 

 March. In 191 5, Feb. 13, and in 19 16, Feb. 22, were the dates of 

 arrival. This spring the Robin was our earliest migrant, arriving 

 on Feb. 23. The Hairy Woodpecker, which was recorded on the 

 15th of February, is really a winter species. 



The Song Sparrow is a close competitor with the Robin for 

 being the first of our birds to return in Spring. All the dates of 

 arrival for the three last years have been in February. The earliest 

 was Feb. 16, 191 6; the latest, Feb. 26, 191 7. Although the Song 

 Sparrow may be regarded as a winter species still there was both 

 in 19 1 6 and in 191 7 an absence of three or four weeks before the 

 bird first appeared in February. And after this date the species 

 was seen at least irregularly. 



Another competitor as the earliest migrant in spring is the 

 Bluebird. And if the records for nine years be used, this species 

 must be given first place, for six years out of nine the Bluebird 

 arrived in February. Like those of the Robin and Song Sparrow, 

 the dates range from the middle of that month until almost the end. 

 In three years the earliest arrival was on Feb. 13, 1915; and the 

 latest, on Feb. 26, 191 7. 



The Purple Finch was first seen this spring on March 5 — the 

 earliest record that I have ever made for the species. The 31st of 

 May was the date on which the Purple Finch was last observed. 



