The Red-winged Blackbird 



95 



this sort that the great flocks turn both to the fall-sown grain, as well as 

 that of the crop in the ear, causing the farmers the loss that puts a black 

 mark against the Redwings. Yet those that dwell east of this area, owing 

 to the draining and ditching of their swampy haunts being in much reduced 

 numbers, are comparatively harmless. 



During the winter months the Redwings are distributed 



His Travels throughout the South, though stragglers may be occasionally 



seen in many parts of their summer range. Exactly why they 



begin the southward migration in September and end it with the falling of 



the leaves in late October, it is not easy to guess; for the food-supply is not 



NEST OF RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD 

 Photographed from nature by C. G. Abbott 



at an end and they do not dread moderate cold, else why should they be 

 in the front rank of spring migrants ? 



The last of February will bring a few individuals of the advance guard 

 of males, [n early March their calls are heard often before the ice has 

 melted and the hylas found voice; yet, in spite of this hurried return, the 

 nesting season does not begin until the middle of May ; and so for two months 

 and more the flock life continues, and foraging, fighting and general court- 

 ing serve to kill time until the remote marshes show enough green drapery 

 to hide the nests. 



