MIGRATION OF OUR BIRDS 303 
MIGRATION OF OUR BIRDS IN THE SPRING OF iog12. 
BY BROTHER ALPHONSUS, C. S. C. 
This year the first migrants were two weeks later than their 
usual dates for arriving. The Bluebird and Song Sparrow were 
three weeks late. A number of species that may be seen in March, 
when the month is mild, did not arrive until April. Such were 
the Mourning Dove, Chipping Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Cow- 
bird, Red-winged Blackbird and Kingfisher. 
In April the average temperature for the whole month was 
below 55°, which caused many of the birds that may be seen even 
in March to come as late as the 5th or roth of April. Among 
these tardy arrivals were the Kingfisher, Flicker, Golden-crowned 
Kinglet, Cowbird and Chipping Sparrow. 
In May the temperature rose to 68° on the 2nd and remained 
there for several days. Immediately a strong influx of warblers 
and other species was noticeable. Twenty species arrived during 
the first six days. There was then a gap of seven days, during 
- which the temperature was below 68°, with no new arrivals. 
Although the temperature did not rise above 68° until the roth, 
still the migration was resumed on the 13th ,when the thermometer 
_ registered 45° at 9:50 A. M. Between this date and the roth, 
seventeen species arrived. 
The period in which warblers arrived was from April 16th 
until May 26th—4o days. The total number of warblers seen 
was twenty. 
Migrants not seen this spring were: Purple Finch, Hell - 
Diver, Maryland Yellowthroat, Purple Martin, Dickcissel, Sparrow 
Hawk, Wilson Warbler, Long-billed Marshall Wren, Yellowlegs, 
Prairie Horned Lark, Hummingbird, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, 
Black-billed Cuckoo and Chickadee. 
MARCH 
14 Robin 22 Song Sparrow 
14 Killdeer 25 Bluebird 
18 Cardinal 26 Chicken Hawk 
19 Purple Grackle 27 Herring Gull 
19 Meadowlark 31 Loggerhead Shrike 
21 Goldfinch 31 Field Sparrow 
