12 Iowa Ornithologist. 



THE NE W YEARN S WORK. 



WITH the commencemeut of our 1897 work, let us bear in mind the work 

 of our Association now under way and so shape our spring work as to 

 be of the greatest value to that. All points in doubt should receive special at- 

 tention, as well as the rare birds and especially the rarer nesting birds ; the 

 Flycatchers, Warblers, rare Vireos, etc. 



The food of all the birds coming under our observation should be carefully 

 noted also, and deductions made from these as to their economic value to the 

 agriculturist of our state. 



lAmoug points of special interest for the spring work, I would suggest the 

 following ::rr-The Wrens, especially by observers in the southern and eastern 

 parts of the state ; the "TraiU's Flycatchers," by observers both in. the eastern 

 and western part of the state ; and the Shrikes, both in the southern and north- 

 ern part of the state. 



The Wrens and Shrikes are not easy to differentiate among the closely 

 related species, and with regard to the "Traill's Flycatcher" it seems to me that 

 the prevailing form in our state will be foundj^o be the Little Flycatcher, in- 

 stead of Traill's. Among the waders there seems to be room for observation 

 also, and among the Sparrows too, both ;qiigrant and summer residents. 



Mr. Savage has suggested that I take up this work to be reported upon at 

 our next congress.. So if the members will send me such skins of species about 

 which there is any doubt as to their identification, I will do the best I can with 

 them and we (^ hold an informal "inquest" at the next congress, after which, 

 of course, all specimens will be returned to the collectors. And last but not 



least, let us have full reports from each member of the birds having come under 

 his obser\'ation, both migrants and breeders, .and when he has observed the 

 same species in two or more counties, let us have all the records, as the distribu- 

 tion of the birds within our state will be of great importance. 



. ..; . ...... J. H. Brown, Davenport, ia, 



BIRD niGRATION IN IOWA. 



TTS-tT : 



IN the winter of 1881-'82, Prof. W, W^ Cooke made an attempt to secure the 

 assistance of the ornithologists of low;?) in studying the migration of birds ; 

 but a change of residence on, the part of Mr. Cooke from Iowa to Minnespta, 

 made it necessary to modify the original scheme, and it was desided to increase 

 the area to be investigated to the whole Mississippi y alley, the admirable re- 

 port — Bird Migration in the Mississippi Valley — published by the U. S. Dept. of 

 Agriculture, being the outcome of this co-operation. The scheme of studying 

 bird migration in Iowa has never been.resumed. 



In prepairing the "Birds of Iowa" wijfch annotated notes, the compilation 

 committee thought a proper course to pursue would be to study the bird waves 

 which pass through the state during the spring of 1897. In order to do this suc- 

 cessfully we must have the co-operation of a large corps of workers well distri- 

 buted throughout the state. Not only do we sohcit aid from all the members of 

 the Iowa Ornithologist Association, but from every observing ornithologist in 

 the state and adjoining states. Our method of work will be the same as Prof. 

 W. W. Cooke used in prepairing his work. 



