The Eighth Christmas Bird Census 



BIRD students are not easily influenced by weather conditions, but birds 

 are, and one might think that as the weather of Christmas week was 

 exceptionally favorable for birds and for the recording of them, the 

 returns for Bird-Lore's Eighth Census would be of exceptional interest. It 

 is true, a greater number of observers were heard from than on any previous 

 occasion, but from most quarters comes the report "very few birds this winter." 

 Such true northern birds as Crossbills, Redpolls, Pine Grosbeaks and the Shrike 

 are almost wholly absent, while the commoner winter birds are said to be present 

 in smaller numbers than usual. 



The Censuses, however, are made to record the results obtained and one 

 containing a small number of birds or none at all, is just as important as the 

 one with forty or more species, provided that it truly represents existing condi- 

 tions. It is data of the kind we are accumulating which will permit us to say 

 with some definiteness just how abundant or scarce winter birds are, for com- 

 parative statements of this kind are of value only when they are based on 

 actual records. 



We regret to say that a number of Censuses were received too late for inser- 

 tion, while the demands the Census makes on Bird-Lore's space has prevented 



MAP SHOWING NUMBER AND DISTRIBUTION OF CHRISTMAS 

 BIRD CENSUSES 



(22) 



