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AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 



Our Birds in the Spring of 1912. 



BY BROTHER APLHONSUS, C. S. C. 



The average temperature for the first fourteen days in March 

 was about 28°, and during the rest of the month it was slightly 

 over 40°. To these conditions in the weather is due the small 

 number of migrants that arrived in March. Besides the absence 

 of a number of spring migrants, such winter birds as the White- 

 breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Hairy Woodpecker, and 

 Chicadee were not once recorded. This observation establishes 

 the fact that these species have a time of migration. The Nut- 

 hatch was absent from February 25 until April 10 — 45 days. 

 The Downy Woodpecker migrated on February 14 and returned 

 on April 6 — 42 days. The only dates the writer observed the 

 Chicadee were Sept. 8 and Oct. 8, 1911, no record having been 

 made in 191 2 until August i. The Hairy Woodpecker was re- 

 corded once — March 2, 1912. The Snowbird is also a winter 

 migrant. The bird disappeared this year on Jan. 29 and reappeared 

 on March 20 — an absence of 50 days. 



The Hermit Thrush was recorded but twice in April, although 

 the species is usually very common in this month. The Tree 

 Sparrow was seen on the 22 of April, which is late for this species. 

 The cold weather may account for this record, but sometimes a 

 belated individual or two of any species may be seen long after 

 all the others have departed. The solitary record in April of the 



