THE OSPREY. Y3 



whistling of the wings of some belated or disturbed bird, soon followed by 

 the distinct splash as it strikes the water again. 



As winter abates and the increasing warmth causes the ice to give way, 

 followed by the great break-up as the ice goes out, the duck is at its best. 

 The moving ice fields then keep them on the watch, and as the open water they 

 are in narrows, they spring up and fly over the grinding, churning mass, drop 

 into the next clear space up stream. 



The instant they hit the water they go to playing, chasing each other, 

 and diving to great distances. At times a part of the flock will rise and de- 

 part for some distant open water, soon followed by others, and then perhaps 

 by the remainder, and that particular place will be deserted by them for the 

 time being. 



Again they will congregate in an open space, with the ice rumbling and 

 roaring around them on all sides, seemingly loath to leave, but when another 

 change takes place in the ice, and a block sweeps towards them, they are 

 forced to leave. 



At times they get a long respite, and are left undisturbed in an open 

 space, bj an ice jam forming above them on the rapids. Then, again, the ice 

 may break up so that the surface of the river is almost completely covered, 

 and they can find open water only by a long flight up or down stream, or in 

 some bend where a projecting head-land shunts the ice out into the stream. 

 This does not often happen and is caused by an ice jam forming at the mouth 

 of the Des Moines River a few miles below. 



If the great break-up of the ice comes late in the season, as the first week 

 in March, which often happens after a severe winter, we find the eager Sprig- 

 tails {Dafila acuta), and the first flight of Mallardscomingup, and then there is 

 bird-life worth seeing. Although the number of ducks that pass here is rap- 

 idly falling off, still thousands are left. 



The first flight of Pin-tails is with us the greatest, and they always appear 

 while the ice is running. Several days before the ice gives way an occasional 

 flock will come up and circle around over the frozen river as if taking observa- 

 tions, and then disappear to the South. If a rain comes before the ice goes 

 out, and forms pools in the bottom-land corn fields, they will settle in these 

 until the rivers open, or a cold wave strikes us. 



The first night after the ice has commenced moving is a busy and exciting 

 one for the water birds. It is usually a misty, rainy night, which together 

 with a low, steady wind from the southwest fast rots the ice. Standing on 

 the bank of the river, and down near the water, one can tell fairly well what 

 is taking place by the sounds that echo across the great stream. Everything 

 will be dripping wet and the air has that clammy feeling which always ac- 



