THE OSPREY. 



An Illustrateci Ivlagazine of Popular Ornithology. 



Pablisl)ed Monthly. 



Volume I. (New, Series). MAY, 1902. Ndmbbr S. 



WINTER WATER FOWL OF THE DES MOINES RAPIDS. 



By Ed. S. Currier, Keokuk, Iowa. 



I live on the bank of the Mississippi River, at the foot of seven miles of 

 shallow, swift-running water, broken by projecting ledges of limestone called 

 the Des Moines Rapids. 



The river has cut its way through earth and rock and flows between 

 rather abrupt blufl^s, which rise to a height of about two hundred feet on either 

 side, and are about one mile apart. 



Even in the most severe winters these rapids never entirely freeze over; 

 intervals occur that are locally called "air-holes", or open fields of water of 

 irregular size and shape. During the coldest periods the air-holes contract 

 by the formation of new ice, and some of the smaller ones disappear entirely, 

 but with a milder spell of weather they are enlarged by the melting and wear- 

 ing away of the ice. 



In severe weather these places will bo the only open water for many 

 miles, for weeks and even months at a stretch. 



Here is where thousands of the Golden-eyes (6'/«H^(//a clangula americana) 

 spend the months of December, January, February, and part of March every 

 year. The colder and longer the winter the greater their numbers. 



An occasional Barrow's Golden-eye {Clangula isla?idica) is found with 

 them, but this is not often. 



The Golden-eyes begin to appear here late in November with the last 

 flight of Mallards, Teals and Blue-bills. They are very quiet then, and keep 

 well out in the stream. Not until a severe cold wave, usually in December, 

 that sends the mercury down near the zero mark, or below, and closes the 

 river tightly north and south of us, do they come in full numbers. 



