iS6 



Bird -Lore 



River in numbers below the city, gradually 

 departed for the north during the latter part 

 of IMarch, and by the last of the month were 

 largely gone; but of course some will remain 

 for a time into the month of April. The 

 Canada Goose has been noted this year more 

 frequently than usual, and several times in 

 flocks of considerable size. Mr. Smith Riley 

 saw two large flocks flying over the city 

 March 23 and 24; and Mr. William F. 

 Bancroft obser\ed a flock of seventy-five on 

 March 26. This apparent increase in num- 

 bers of this interesting species is another of 

 the many indications of the value of recent 

 eflorts at protection of our migratory water- 

 fowl.— Harry C. Oberholser, Biological 

 Siiney, Washington, D. C. 



Oberlin (Ohio) Region.— Following an- 

 other exceptionally mild winter, the migra- 

 tions began on Februarj' 20, with the arrival 

 of Crows, Robins, Bluebirds, Killdeers, Song 

 Sparrows, Canada Geese, ISIeadowlarks, 

 Bronzed Crackles, Red-winged Blackbirds, 

 ISIourning Doves, and Greater Scaup Ducks. 

 This is a larger number of arrivals for the 

 first 'wave' than we have had in years. The 

 birds composing it really belong to the first 

 two 'waves'. Then followed a lull until 

 March 5, when Northern Flickers and Tow- 

 hees came, along with an increase in the 

 numbers of the first arrivals. The next move- 

 ment began on INIarch 9 and ended on the 

 13th, when the arrivals were Cowbird, Chip- 

 ping Sparrow, Great Blue Heron, Field Spar- 

 row, Black Duck and Lesser Scaup Duck. 

 The third movement came on the 17th, iSth 

 and 19th, a very marked movement of most 

 of the birds that had already come, and the 

 following: Baldpate, Pintail, Mallard, Green- 

 winged Teal, Hooded Merganser, Bufflehead, 

 Fox Sparrow, Rusty Blackbird, WOson's 

 Snipe, Coot, Tree Swallow, and Shoveller, — 

 the most marked movement was on the iSth. 

 Turkey Vulture came on the 23d, Phcebe on 

 the 24th, Woodcock and Vesper Sparrow on 

 the 25th, White-throated Sparrow and Her- 

 mit Thrush on the 26th. On March 31 the 

 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Horned Grebe 

 arrived; on April i Purple IMartin; on April 

 3, Upland Plover, Bonaparte's Gull, Louisiana 

 Water-Thrush. Blue-winged Teal Pied-billed 



Grebe and Bittern; on the 4th, Ruddy Duck; 

 the 5th, Loon; the 8th, Myrtle Warbler; the 

 9th, Swamp Sparrow, Barn Swallow, Ruby- 

 crowned Kinglet, Bobolink; the loth, Brown 

 Thrasher, Greater Yellow-legs, Grasshopper 

 Sparrow, Savanna Sparrow, Palm Warbler; 

 the Osprey and Chimney Swift on the 15th 

 completed the migrations to date. Thus, it 

 is seen that while some species are distinctly 

 ahead of schedule others are equally behind 

 schedule. Temperatures have been favorable 

 for movements, for the most part, but the 

 persistently wet weather, with cloudy and 

 foggy nights have been hindrances. — Lynds 

 Jones, Ohcrlin, Ohio. 



Chicago Region. — The past two months 

 have been cold and rainy for the most part, 

 but there has been a warm spring day here 

 and there to encourage the birds. The first 

 of these days was February- 22, when Robins 

 were reported from many points about the 

 city. By March i they were fairly common, 

 and Bluebirds, ISIeadowlarks, Song Sparrows, 

 and Crackles were arriving almost every day. 



There have been no vmusual records made 

 recently, but a few early arrivals have been 

 reported. A Fox Sparrow was seen at Hyde 

 Lake February 26, and a Swamp Sparrow at 

 Jackson Park, February 28, by Dr. Lewy. 

 The writer saw a Sora Rail at Beach, 111., 

 April II. Ducks are plentiful on the marshes 

 and lake, eighteen species having been re- 

 ported to date. Wood Ducks were seen 

 March 12 and Red-head and Canvasback 

 April 2. The American and Red-breasted 

 INIergansers are the commonest Ducks along 

 the lake and the Pintails and Mallards the 

 commonest on the marshes. The lagoons in 

 the city parks are always a refuge for Ducks 

 in stormy weather. Ruddy Ducks were found 

 in Jackson Park, Februar>- 26 and Ring- 

 necked the 27th. 



The only Yellow-legs so far reported was 

 seen at Warren viUe, INIarch 19, and the only 

 Wilson Snipe, March 23, at the same place 

 by Mr. H. B. Conover. Last year the third 

 week in INIarch found the marshes full of 

 Snipe, with many Yellow-legs and Pectoral 

 Sandpipers, and I have been at a loss to 

 account for their absence so far this year. 



The migration seems to be fairly well under 



