Editorial 



91 



iltrti'Eore 



A Bi-monthly Magazine 

 Devoted to the Study and Protection of Birds 



OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE AUDUBON SOCIETIES 



Edited by FRANK M. CHAPMAN 

 Published by THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 



Vol. XI 



Published April 1, 1909 



No. 2 



SUBSCRIPTION RATES 



Price in the United States, Canada and Mexico twenty cents 

 a number, one dollar a year, postage paid. 



COPYRIGHTED, 1909, BY FRANK M. CHAPMAN 



Bird-Lore's Motto : 

 A Bird in the Bush is IVorth Two in the Hand 



From every side come exceptionally 

 early records of the return of the birds. 

 At Englewood, N. J., on February 22, 

 Red-winged Blackbirds, Meadowlarks, 

 Song Sparrows, and Bluebirds were sing- 

 ing freely; and on the same date, at Plain- 

 field, N. J., Mr. W. DeWitt Miller reports 

 hearing two Woodcocks singing! 



The effects of the high temperature 

 which, so to speak, has started the birds 

 growing, is also visible in the plant world, 

 skunk cabbages, hepatica, alder, and 

 willow, all being found in bloom in Feb- 

 ruary. 



About New York the European Star- 

 ling's voice has now become a character- 

 istic part of the spring chorus, and one 

 half resents the intrusion of its strange 

 notes among those which association has 

 made particularly dear to us. The Star- 

 ling's occasional habit of mimicry intro- 

 duces a new element in the identification 

 problem. A few days since we were not a 

 little surprised to hear one give a capital 

 imitation of a Wood Pewee — surely an 

 unusual bird song for February. 



Replying to our editorial in the last 

 issue of Bird-Lore, the field student 

 asks " What do you consider constitutes 

 satisfactory identification of the bird 

 in nature?" 



We have before answered this question 

 at some length (Bird-Lore IV, 1902, 

 p. 166), numbering among the require- 

 ments of adequate field identification: 

 "(i) Experience in naming birds in nature, 



and familiarity at least with the local 

 fauna. (2) A good field- or opera-glass. 

 (3) Opportunity to observe the bird 

 closely and repeatedly with the light at 

 one's back. (4) A detailed description 

 of the plumage, appearance, actions and 

 notes (if any) of the bird, written while it 

 is under observation. (5) Examination 

 of a specimen of the supposed species to 

 confirm one's identification." 



The fifth requirement cannot, of course, 

 be always complied with, nor is it essen- 

 tial. Indeed, the actual identification of 

 the bird seen may be left to some one else 

 to whom the field description, or, what is 

 far better, the field sketch may be submitted. 



We may claim a somewhat extended 

 experience in identifying, or attempting to 

 identify, descriptions of "strange birds," 

 and among the hundreds received none is 

 so satisfactory as the sketch in colored 

 crayons or water-color. It may be the 

 crudest outline and in ridiculous pose, 

 but at least it is definite. There is no 

 possibility of error through the wrong 

 use of terms, the observer draws or charts 

 what he sees. Neither art nor skill is re- 

 required. Any one can learn to make the 

 outline of the normal bird figure as readily 

 as he can learn to make the letters of the 

 alphabet, and a little practice will enable 

 one to give the characteristic shape of 

 bill, wings or tail. Typical passerine out- 

 line figures may be made in advance in 

 one's note-book, and the shape of bill 

 and color may be added while the bird 

 is under observation. If the sketch cannot 

 be completed, if essential features are 

 lacking, it is obvious that the subject has 

 not been seen with that definiteness upon 

 which satisfactory field identification 

 should rest. 



So, in reply to our field-student's query, 

 we say, purchase a box of colored crayons 

 and a sketch-kook, and, before the waves 

 of north-bound migrants reach you, learn 

 to make and color simple bird outlines. 

 You will be surprised at the ease with which 

 this can be done, and your growing collec- 

 tion of bird maps or diagrams will possess 

 for you far greater interest than the most 

 carefully worded descriptions. 



