24 Bird -Lore 



association for us at this time. The martial choruses of Red-wings and 

 Grackles, the fifing of the Meadowlarks, the clarion of the Wild Geese, 

 the morning and evening Robin concerts are all thrilling to the nature 

 lover, but first place in this band of March musicians must be accorded 

 the Fox Sparrow, whose clear, ringing melody stands out in strong con- 

 trast to his bleak surroundings, like a beautiful flower blossoming in the 

 snow. 



BIRDS OF THE SEASON 



Permanent residents and winter visitants (see Bird-Lore, Dec, 1900, p. 184.) 



February Migrants .—Ythmzry 15 to March 10, Purple Grackle, Rusty Blackbird, 

 Red-winged Blackbird, Robin. 



March Migrants. — Appearing when ice leaves the bays and rivers, Loon, Ducks 

 and Geese; March i-io (see February); 10-20, Woodcock, Phoebe, Meadowlark, Cow- 

 bird, Fox Sparrow; 20-31, Wilson's Snipe, Kingfisher, Mourning Dove, Swamp 

 Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow. 



Winter Visitants leaguing for tlie North. — Horned Lark, Redpoll, Snowflake, Pine 

 Grosbeak, Northern Shrike. 



FEBRUARY AND MARCH BIRD-LIFE NEAR PHILADELPHIA 



By Witmer Stone 



Februar^^ and March bring us the first migrants from the south. 

 About the middle of the former month we almost always have one or 

 two of those spring-like da^'s which cause nature to stir in her winter 

 slumber. Then we are likely to see the earliest migrant Robins, Blue- 

 birds and, perhaps. Flickers, while little bunches of Grackles, Redwings 

 and Rusty Blackbirds pass overhead, pushing steadily northward. 



The next week the country may be wrapped in snow, and long after 

 we have recorded our pioneers from the south we may be surprised by a 

 flock of Redpolls or other visitors from the north. This alternation of 

 weather causes considerable irregularity in the dates of arrival of migrants 

 during these months, but nearly all the species which occasionally winter 

 either about Philadelphia or southern New Jersey will be observed before 

 April I. We also hear the Canada Geese go honking northward along 

 the river and find Wilson's Snipe on the meadows, while warm weather 

 at the end of March sometimes brings us Martins and Tree Swallows. 

 One observer must not expect to see all the early birds, however, and he 

 who is located close to the river or on the New Jersey side will be more 

 fortunate than his fellow observer west of the city. 



Winter visitants begin to leave us during March, but few of them 

 disappear altogether before April i, and some few Tree Sparrows re- 

 main after that date. 



Many species previously silent break forth in song and some of our 

 Winter Sparrows give us a taste of their vocal abilities just before they 

 leave us, while the resident Song Sparrows produce such a volume of 

 melody that many think they have just arrived. 



