i86 Bird- Lore 



More or less I'egular in southern Nezu Jersey in zuinter, occasional 7iear Phila- 

 del;phia: Killdeer, Turkey Vulture, Kingfisher, Flicker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, 

 Phcebe, Red-winged Blackbird, Purple Grackle, Cowbird, Vesper Sparrow, Savanna 

 Sparrow, Ipswich Sparrow (on coast). Sharp-tailed Sparrow (on coast). Myrtle Warbler, 

 Long-billed Marsh Wren, Short-billed Marsh Wren, Carolina Chickadee, Robin, Her- 

 mit Thrush, Bluebird. 



DECEMBER AND JANUARY BIRD-LIFE AT OBERLIN, OHIO 



By Prof. Lynds Jones 



Winter does not come upon us with any severity until late in 

 December. It is rarely true that snow covers the ground for more than 

 a few days at a time during the entire month. Frequently the weather 

 is mild until well toward the New Year, with only an occasional sharp 

 day. On account of this mildness many birds which go southward 

 when winter really comes remain with us until Christmas time. 



January is also a varied month, frequently opening with severe 

 weather and snow-covered landscape. Toward the middle of the month 

 there is usually a thaw which may take away all the snow and be so 

 spring-like that the birds begin to sing and mate, but none come up 

 from the south. It is during the last week of December and the first 

 week or ten days of January that the most of the winter birds visit us, 

 many of them remaining to or beyond the end of January. Following 

 the thaw the winter settles down again in even greater severity, the 

 month closing with a zero temperature and not a little snow. But 

 however the weather may be, the January birds are permanent residents 

 and winter visitors, none of them birds from the south. Sometimes an 

 ice-storm follows the January thaw, covering everything with a thick 

 ice-coat, and then the birds may be driven south. This often happens 

 to the birds of prey, especially the Hawks. The Owls seem able to 

 survive in any weather. 



PERMANENT RESIDENTS 



Herring Gull, Bob-White, Ruffed Grouse, Mourning Dove (rare). Marsh Hawk 

 (uncommon), Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk (uncommon), Red-tailed Hawk, 

 Red-shouldered Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk (rare). Bald Eagle, Pigeon Hawk (rare), 

 Sparrow Hawk, Barn Owl (rare), Long-eared Owl, Short-eared Owl (rare). Barred 

 Owl, Saw-whet Owl (rare), Screech Owl, Great Horned Owl (rare). Hairy Wood- 

 pecker, Downy Woodpecker, Red-headed Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Flicker 

 (not common), Prairie Horned Lark, Blue Jay, American Crow (not common), 

 Meadowlark (not common), American Goldfinch, Song Sparrow, Cardinal, Cedar 

 Waxwing (not common). White-breasted Nuthatch, Tufted Titmouse, Chickadee. 



WINTER VISITANTS 



Horned Grebe (rare), Iceland Gull (rare), Old-Squaw (rare), Goshawk (rare), 

 Rough-legged Hawk, Golden Eagle (uncommon). Snowy Owl (rare). Hawk Owl (rare), 

 Horned Lark, Purple Finch, American Crossbill, White-winged Crossbill (rare). Red- 

 poll (rare), Pine Finch (rare), Snowflake, Lapland Longspur, Tree Sparrow, Northern 

 Shrike, Winter Wren, Brown Creeper (uncommon). Golden-crowned Kinglet. 



