The Season 



287 



of the birds of a mountain region. Leaving 

 Denver (altitude 5,200 feet) in the morning, 

 one gradually climbs to higher and higher 

 levels, and, without undue haste, in four 

 hours can be at timber-line on Berthoud Pass, 

 for example. Timber-line at Berthoud Pass 

 is at 11,500 feet altitude. On the way up to 

 this level one will see several species which 

 visit Denver and the plains only in the fall, 

 winter and early spring, such as Gambel's 

 Sparrow, Gray-headed Junco, Long-crested 

 Jay, Townsend's Solitaire, Audubon's War- 

 bler, Pinon Jay, Rocky Mountain Jay, and 

 Clark's Nutcracker, and if one is not in a 

 hurry, many more can be seen, each at its 

 appropriate level. When one drops onto 

 the lower levels of the Pacific watershed, at 

 Grand Lake, perhaps, other forms become 

 abundant, especially the beautiful Violet- 

 green Swallow. All of the above listed 

 species were seen on this particular motor 

 trip, together with others not specifically 

 mentioned. At and above timber-line, those 

 hardy pioneers, the Titlark and the Gray- 

 headed Rosy Finch were seen, these two 

 species being very noticeable on Flat Top at 

 an altitude of 12,000 feet. It was a matter 

 of something more than ordinary interest to 

 watch a Marsh Hawk plying his trade at 

 this altitude, sweeping over the rocks, and 

 about the little lakelets on and near the 

 Divide with as much elan as over the plains 

 or over a New Jersey marsh. 



This season has reimpressed me with the 

 impossibility of divining the reasons why the 

 complexion of a local bird-life should change 

 so much from year to year. 



Now that the young are able to fly, it 

 becomes very apparent that a large number 

 of Wood Pewees were successful in nesting 

 this year in and about Denver. One sees an 

 unusual number of them these days, and the 

 second or third brood of Robins must also 

 have been large, the residential parts of the 

 city almost swarming with them. Yet there 

 have been no Warbling Vireos to speak of, 

 very few Black-headed Grosbeaks, and fewer 

 Chipping Sparrows. 



The summer so far has seemed warmer than 

 ordinary because of a somewhat greater 

 humidity, a combination which may have a 

 •relation to the scarcity of some local birds. 



One can count with great trust on seeing 

 flocks of Bronzed Crackles appearing or 

 reappearing in Denver and its environs about 

 the middle of August. This year the first 

 came under my notice on August 6; on the 

 morning of August 14, Upland Plover were 

 heard calling as they flew over my home, and 

 on August 6 and 7, the first Rocky Mountain 

 Hairy Woodpeckers reappeared in the city. 

 These two last species are very apt to be 

 seen in or over the city any time after 

 August I. 



Several years ago quite a few Bob-white 

 flourished along the Platte River immediately 

 above and below its course through Denver. 

 They have been decidedly scarcer during the 

 past four years. It was a welcome sound to 

 hear again the calls of this species in the 

 neighborhood of Loveland on August 5, and 

 I hope that it means that the species will 

 get a fresh start. A native species which has 

 almost deserted Denver, the Barn Swallow, 

 was detected nesting in a barn on the eastern 

 edge of the city. This effort at nesting, and 

 those of Bluebirds, and Mockingbirds, 

 prompts one to hope that more will succeed 

 in the future, and also makes one realize 

 with sorrow what a great change the English 

 Sparrow has wrought in the bird-life of this 

 city. Even now, despite the obnoxious 

 Sparrow, if given a bit of encouragement and 

 help these species, and Wrens and others are 

 occasionally successful in nesting within 

 the city proper. For the past few days there 

 have been no Yellow Warblers about my 

 neighborhood. As this is being written 

 (August 15) they are again singing freely in 

 Cheesman Park. I believe these two facts 

 mean that our local Yellow Warblers de- 

 parted for the South about a week ago, and 

 that those here today are migrants either 

 from the mountains or from the North. — 

 W. H. Bergtold, Denver, Colo. 



Portland (Oregon) Region. — Nothing 

 particularly startling was noticeable in the 

 months of June and July in this district. The 

 small birds have been nesting in normal 

 numbers and at about the usual dates. Yel- 

 low Warblers seem to be even more common 

 than usual and the Green-backed Gold- 

 finches have been particularly noticeable. 



