28 



Iowa Ornithologist, 



32 \ 



First Brown Thrasher, White- throated 



Wind mostly 

 south and 

 warm. 



Vegetati on 



making 

 rapid pro- 

 gress ; trees 

 budding. 



Willows and 

 soft wood 

 leafing. 



.,., , Sparrow ; Clay-eolored Sparrow increased 



( and Whip-poor-will became common. 



1 First Catbird, Rose-brested Gro.sbeak, 

 24 •' Purple Finch and Pine Warbler ; White- 



I throated Sparrow very abundant. 

 J- \ First Myrtle Warbler, Chimney Swift and 

 '^'^ I Kingbird, 

 g,. ) First Lark Sparrow, not niucli change in 



/ other species. 

 .,». \ First Red-eyed Vireo, Lark Sparrow in- 

 '^' I creased, first Red- head Woodpecker. 



( First Scarlet Tanager, Cliff Swallow, Gol- ; Weather cold.' | 

 28 j den Warbler, Long- billed Marsh Wren, | j 



1 Oven Bird, Baltimore Oriole. | | Yeu^tni i o n 



OQ ^ First Barn Swallow, Tanagers nicreased, I .f.iHr..,.,i.T' 



^^ ) Orchard Oriole. I ^'^'"lonaiy. 



.... 3 First House Wren, Barn Swallow increased | 



/ Silver Tanager common. J J 



We acknowledge with thanks the receipt of letters of encouragement and 

 the promise of a helping hand from a number of ornithologists. For the bene- 

 fit of these and the many others wiicm we believe are willing to help in the 

 work, but for some reason liave neglected to send in monthly reports, we will 

 say that we desire that all reports on tlie spring migration to be in by June 15th. 

 Wake-up brethren, lend a hand. We have a state organization that is second 

 to none, either in regard to number of efficient workers or in past accomplish- 

 ments. Three years ago, under the most discourageing words from such men 

 as Dr. Morris Cibbs (hope he will pardon the per.sonal mention), our official 

 organ first appeared. Dr. Gibbs said "an ornithological magazine with a state 

 name cannot stand ; it has been tried." Through the imited efforts of the 

 members of the I. O. A., the Iowa ORNiTHOLO(iisT is still in the field and re- 

 tains its high standard of usefulness. We may point with a pardonable degree 

 of pride to our magazine, which stands alone in many of its "origiiialities." 



So far, so good. However, we live in the present, not in the past. It then 

 behooves us to pnsh forward toward new achievements. No work could be more 

 commendable than a state manual .similar to Ridgeway's "Ornithology of 

 Illinois." 



Is there one among us that, during his early days of studyings birds, did 

 not look in vain for an inexpensive, yet accurate work on his chosen sub-jecf;' 

 Did we not in those days write to every (>ne who ^\ as likely to know, inquiring 

 if there was a work published on the birds of our state? There has been a long 

 felt need for such a publication. Since the announcement that the I. O. A. had 

 a committee preparing .such a work, a large number of letters of inquiry have 

 been received ; questions as to "when will the bcok on Iowa birds be out?" 

 What will be the price?" "If you are taking advance .sxib.scriptions for the 

 work, book me as a subscriber. " and .so on. We cannot as yet make definite 

 answers to these questions. We will state that the book will contain brief but 

 accurate descriptions of all Iowa birds, in addition to the profuse notes on their 

 life history, so tliat it will be of value to the beginner as well as the professional 

 oi-nithologist. At the present time the committee is simply waiting for the return 

 of tlie check- lists sent out, and to gather tojiether complete data on the bird mi- 

 gration of the state for JS97. This will add much-— if a sufficient number of the 

 niembex-s will contribute — to the vahie of the list. Without delay, send to the 

 chairman of tlie committee what notes you have on '97 .spring migration of birds 

 ut your station, lu)\\ evt r meagerit will be of value. David L. Sava<:e, Ch'm. 



