128 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 96 



AN APRIL DAY'S MIGRATION IN THE DAKOTA 

 VALLEY. 



BY STEPHEN S. VISHER, PH.D. 



The northward flight of water-fowl always attracts atten- 

 tion. The northern Mississippi Basin is noted for great 

 flights. Fifty years ago perhaps Illinois and Iowa were fa- 

 vored in this regard, but now it appears that eastern South 

 Dakota excels. 



Many of the myriads of water-fowl which nest in the lakes 

 and marshes of northeastern South Dakota, North Dakota 

 and Canada apparently follow the Missouri Valley to the 

 junction of the Dakota (James) Valley, which many ascend 

 to its beginning near Devil's Lake, N. D. The Dakota Val- 

 ley, though almost flat in its general features, has thousands 

 of small, shallow, glacial lakes and ponds which afford much 

 used stopping-places. Corresponding depressions in the more 

 populous states are either drained, or so intensively hunted 

 as to be comparatively unavailable for large numbers of 

 game-birds. 



It was my good fortune to spend a few days, early in a 

 recent April, at the family home, which is situated on a bluff 

 between, and overlooking, the Dakota Valley and a pair of 

 fair-sized glacial lakes. April 4 was such a notable day that 

 I am tempted to endeavor to describe it. 



The winter had been long and severe. Birds did not come 

 in abundance until March 30. By April 4 ice had almost disap- 

 peared ; a little green grass could be seen ; the earliest prairie 

 fiowers ^(Peticednu7ii and pasque flower) were just appear- 

 ing ; wheat-seeding had commenced ; a warm south wind 

 prevailed. 



Throughout the day, from sunrise to well into the night, 

 flocks of Ducks, Geese and Cranes passed. Only for short 

 intervals would an examination of the sky not reveal one or 

 more northward-flying bands. 



The Sandhill Crane is one of the most conspicuous bird.> 

 of the prairie region, and most countrv bovs know its unsur- 



