MIGRATION OF OUR BIRDS IN SPRIN(; 27 1 



MIGRATION OF OUR BIRDS IN THE SPRING 



OF 1913. 



BY BROTHER ALPHONSUS, C. S. C. 



It has been stated by some writers that the Bluebird is not 

 our earliest spring migrant. My observations for nine years show 

 that in this locality this species is usually the first to arrive in 

 spring, my record for the present year being the earliest I have 

 ever made for the species. 



The dates of arrival for the Robin, Song vSparrow, Meadow- 

 lark, Killdeer, Bronzed Grackle are a week later than the usual 

 time for these species to arrive. Cold weather and snow were 

 the cause of the delay of these species. 



The Golden-crowned Kinglet, Phoebe, Cowbird, Kingfisher, 

 Field Sparrow, Mourning Dove and Redwinged Blackbird arrived 

 on dates that are usual ones for these species to appear. Warm 

 weather, following soon after the arrival of the Robin, was the 

 i^ason that made these birds come a week or more earlier than 

 they would have done if it was cold and stormy. 



In April the weather continued warm for the season and the 

 dates for nearly all the species that arrived in this month were 

 regular. This year several species that usually arrive in May 

 appeared in April. Such were the Baltimore Oriole, Yellow Warbler 

 and Redstart. 



In May the following species showed exactly the same dates 

 as in 191 2: Kingbird, 3; Crested Ffycatcher, 6; Chestnuted-sided 

 Warbler, 5. In the dates of the following for 19 12, there was 

 but one day's difference from 1913: Chinmey Swift, i; Orchard 

 Oriole, 4; Black-throated Green Warbler, 3. The following 

 showed eight days or more between the dates of the two years: 

 Scarlet Tanager, Cedarbird, White-crowned Sparrow, Red-eyed 

 Vireo, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Magnolia, Black-poll and Black 

 burnian Warblers, Wood Pewee. The difference in days for the 

 same years for the following is indicated by the number after the 

 name of the species: Nashville Warbler, 3 ; Bay-breasted Warbler, 

 3; Canadian Warbler, 4. The Tennessee and Sycamore 

 Warblers were not observed this spring. 



Two species whose dates of migration are found in June are 



