274 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



GREAT DESTRUCTION OF BIRDLIFE BY THE ELEMENTS, 



It is quite probable that this year will rank as the most destructive to 

 the birdlife throughout the country, of any within the memory of 

 anyone living today. Rain storms, cloudbursts, and swollen rivers, 

 together with numerous forest and brush fires have killed countless 

 thousands of both adults and young birds. Unfortunately these cal- 

 amities have occured during the height of the breeding season and there- 

 fore allowed no opportunity for the escape of either the young or adult. 

 Throughout May numerous small brush fires were daily occurances, 

 while forest fires raged uncontrolled for weeks, and birds were forced 

 to abanden their nests, eggs, and young and seek new locations. 



Still more destructive were the floods and rains that came in June. 

 Of course the birds which suffered directly from the excess of water, 

 were those whose nests were on or near the ground, but I think by far 

 the greatest mortality occured among the warblers, flycatchers, vireos 

 and other insect eating birds. Full as many of the young appear to 

 have died of starvation as were drowned owing to the inability of the 

 parents to get them a supply of food. 



"The beautiful colony of about thirty Purple Martins occupying the 

 bird house of William C. Horton, Brattleboro, Vt., met with serious dis- 

 aster during the long cold rain. June twenty-third it was noticed that 

 there were no martins flying about, and -fearing that something was 

 wrong an investigation showed that there were thirty dead little birds, 

 some just coming from the shell, — others perhaps a week old. There 

 were twelve unhatched eggs and two adult birds. The latter were on 

 one nest and were covering four decaying babies. The nests were 

 completely watersoaked and there is no doubt the little featherless 

 babies died from lack of warmth and sunshine to dry the nests. There 

 is no wonder the ever faithful martins fled from their homes during 

 their breeding season, as the decomposing little ones and the water- 

 soaked apartments furnished abundant reasons for the desertion. No- 

 thing was seen of the colony after June 23 until July 2, when one 

 pair returned, flew many times about their home but not daring to enter. 

 Presently one of them alighted on the spire of the house and apparently 

 said something to the other for they both flew away. It is not expect- 

 ed that the birds will return again this year and it is our hope that the 

 impression of the horror will not be sufficient to deter them from re- 

 turning in 1904. The bird house is known as the Castle and a photo- 



