20 BULLETIN 396, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



belted kingfisher, 1 ; chimney swift, 8 ; crow, 8 ; kingbird, 1 ; sparrow 

 hawk, 1 ; red-tailed hawk, 1 ; goldfinch, 12 ; ruby-throated humming- 

 bird, 3 ; mourning dove, 2 ; towhee, 4 ; yellow-billed cuckoo, 2 ; green 

 heron, 1 ; cedar waxwing, 2 ; killdeer, 1 ; spotted sandpiper, 1 ; night- 

 hawk, 2 ; Acadian flycatcher, 1 ; alder flycatcher, 2 ; least flycatcher, 1 ; 

 Carolina wren, 1; Bewick wren, 2; house wren, 1; whip-poor-will, 

 2; barred owl, 1; Carolina chickadee, 1; Baltimore oriole, 1; blue- 

 gray gnatcatcher, 1 ; scarlet tanager, 2 ; a total of 62 different kinds 

 of birds represented by 193 nesting pairs. This is by far the highest 

 record of all the reports received, in the variety of bird life, but in 

 the average of pairs per acre it is exceeded by several. 



These examples, given in detail, show bird lovers what surprisingly 

 satisfactory results may follow persistent and intelligent efforts to 

 attract birds. 



SUMMARY. 



The second count of the birds of the United States corroborates 

 in general the results obtained by the preliminary work of 1914. 



In northeastern United States the average farm contains 108 

 acres. If the counts in 1915 covered 64 acres, showing a bird popu- 

 lation on this part of the farm of 80 nesting pairs, and a probable 

 44 pairs on the remaining 44 acres, the total of 124 pairs might be 

 credited to the farm of 108 acres. 



An average of the returns of counts shows that on farms where 

 counts were made in that part of the Plains region east of the one 

 hundredth meridian and in the whole of the Southern States, for the 

 part of the farm surrounding the farm home there is almost exactly 

 the same density of bird population — for the former, 125, and for the 

 latter, 131 pairs of nesting birds to each 100 acres — but the counts 

 so far received do not furnish a sufficient basis *for estimating the 

 birds on the remainder of the farm. 



The data received tend to indicate that the western part of the 

 Plains, the Rocky Mountain region, and the Pacific slope contain 

 a smaller number of birds per acre than the Eastern States, but as 

 yet no numerical statement may be attempted. 



The further counts made in 1915 emphasize the statement of a 

 year ago, that birds are too few on the farm and that their numbers 

 may be largely increased by protection and a little care in furnish- 

 ing natural food and shelter. A bird population of TO pairs of 

 native birds of 31 species on 8 acres, at Olney, 111.; 135 pairs of 24 

 species on 5 acres, at Wild Acres, Maryland ; 193 pairs of 62 species 

 on 44 acres, at Indianapolis, Ind. ; and 189 pairs of 40 species on 23 

 acres, at Chevy Chase, Md., a half acre of which showed 20 pairs of 

 14 different species, all indicate how largely birds will respond to 

 food, shelter, and protection. 



WASHINGTON : GOVBENMBNT PRINTING OFFICB : 1918 



