OUR BIRDS IN THE SUMMER OF 1912 7 1 



Cardinal was heard only twice during summer — early in August. 

 The most unusal case was that of the Maryland Yellow-throat, 

 the first record being made on July 19. These observations show 

 that in some seasons certain species are entirely absent from, 

 or very rare in, a given locality. 



The absence in June of the Yellow-throated and Red-eyed 

 Vireos and the Phoebe was likely due to the fact that these species 

 are not partial to parts that are inhabited, as nesting-places. 

 Some years a grove may have a nesting Red-eye, and then a 

 season will occur when no one of the species can be found in the 

 locality. The same is true of the Pi;oebe, whose nest is often placed 

 under overhanging rocks; and sometimes so slanting is the posi- 

 t on selected that the nest will fall and a new one must be built. 

 An experience of this kind will cause the bird to choose a different 

 locality next year. 



Only one record was made of the Bluebird in June. If a nest 

 is not found, the observer may fail to see this species during the 

 nesting-season; for the bird does not cover a large territory until 

 the young are fledged. The Towhee, Yellow Warbler, Scarlet 

 Tanager and Loggerhead Shrike nest in localities that are far from 

 towns, and are unlikely to be found by any one who does not 

 visit deep woods and out-lying fields. 



This summer the scarcity of the Killdeer was notable — three 

 times in June and seven times in July and once in August were 

 the only records made by the writer. Other years this species 

 was as common as the Sandpiper. The writer's observations of the 

 Bobol nk were most meager this summer — only one in June. This 

 month is usually the time when the species is most abundant, 

 but June of 191 2 was remarkable for the rarity of the Bobolink. 



In July and August, when the song season of certain species 

 ends, it is difficult to find them. Among such birds are the Vesper 

 Sparrow and the Orchard Oriole. Both of these species, late in 

 summer, feed in unfrequented places, making it necessary to travel 

 far if the observer would locate them. 



In August a number of species were found but a few times, 

 in the first part of the month. Such were the Bluebird, Meadow- 

 lark, Red-winged Blackbird and Cowbird. The absence of these 

 species for many days indicates a summer migration, which may 

 extend into autumn. After August 20, a great scarcity of many 



