The Season 



313 



nests were found in a wooded creek bottom 

 near Swope Park, and in the same timber 

 the numerous Redstarts were silent where 

 a week ago they were in full song. On this 

 date also a Green Heron and a young 

 Wood Duck were noted on Brush Creek 

 in the Country Club district, nearly two 

 miles within the city limits. The presence 

 of this young Duck is a hopeful sign. 



Cerulean and Parula Warblers were still 

 in full song on July 13, and on the i6th 

 the last Orchard Oriole was heard. On 

 July 14 a Baltimore Oriole's nest was 

 found near Independence in a milkweed 

 only two feet from the ground. The nest 

 has not yet been personally examined, but 

 is said to be well constructed of horsehair 

 and string, and typical in every detail. 



A flock of twenty Cedar Waxwings was 

 noted on July 22, which is the first local 

 July record for this species. All efforts to 

 locate a breeding pair of these birds have 

 failed. Chipping Sparrows and Mary- 

 land Yellow-throats are still, on August 6, 

 in full song, though their second broods 

 are on the wing. 



It is very gratifying to be able finally 

 to report the complete rout of the well 

 organized local opponents to the Federal 

 Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The sports- 

 men of this region, as well as those of 

 Kansas and Arkansas, have long been most 

 determined and earnest in their bitter 

 opposition to this measure, but any doubt 

 remaining in their minds as to the advisa- 

 bility of further defying the law has been 

 laid at rest by the recent decision of Federal 

 Judge Van Valkenburgh declaring it 

 valid. The case was a notable one, and 

 great credit and praise are due United 

 States Attorney Francis M. Wilson for 

 his able handling of the Government's 

 interests. This officer, himself a sportsman 

 of the old school, already has to his credit 

 a victory for the Bob-white of Missouri, 

 gained several years ago in the state legis- 

 lature. Local observers will now be on the 

 alert to report a noticeable increase in the 

 Geese, since these birds do not appear to 

 have been holding their own with the 

 Ducks during the last three years. — Harry 

 Harris, Kansas City, Missouri. 



Denver Region. — It is a pity that one 

 is not able to recognize more easily indi- 

 vidual birds; the present writer is convinced 

 that Bullock's Oriole, the local Oriole of 

 Denver, leaves its Denver breeding area 

 for the south during the first week in 

 August and after this time few, if any, 

 are seen or heard again until about the 

 third week of August, when they reappear 

 and remain for some days. It seems to the 

 writer that this second group of Orioles 

 are arrivals from the North, but without 

 the possibility of individual marks it is 

 difficult to decide this question. This 

 year's observations concerning our Bul- 

 lock's Orioles confirms the opinion just 

 expressed. 



The season now in hand has been one of 

 rather unbroken high temperatures; it 

 always seems to the writer that bird-life 

 is scarce during extremely hot weather. 

 This is most likely only apparent, as 

 parental duties and hot weather may coin- 

 cide ; at any rate the writer's general impres- 

 sion is that the hot weather just past was 

 accompanied by bird scarcity, particularly 

 in regards to Lark Buntings and Lark 

 Sparrows. 



This summer's observations have added 

 to the accumulating evidence that Lewis's 

 Woodpecker is extending its range east- 

 ward; twenty-five years ago it was rare 

 to see one east of the 'foothills,' while this 

 summer more have been seen than ever 

 before along the wooded creeks east of 

 the mountains, several having been de- 

 tected as far as twenty-five miles east 

 of them, and more have been noted breed- 

 ing out on the plains than at any pre- 

 vious time. 



In line with this increase of Lewis's 

 Woodpecker, it is highly gratifying to 

 relate that each of the past summers has 

 seen an increasing number of breeding 

 House Wrens in the city of Denver, which 

 may or may not be due to the decidedly 

 noticeable decrease in the number of 

 English Sparrows during the same time in 

 this city. The Lazuli Bunting has visited 

 Denver as usual, and one is singing in 

 the nearby park as this is being written. — ■ 

 W. H. Bergtold, Denver, Colo. 



