MIDLAND NATURALIST. 69 
Birds Found in St. Joseph Co. Ind., Each Day in 
May, 1909. 
B. ALPHONSUS. 
The daily observations recorded in this article were made in the 
vicinity of Notre Dame and St. Mary’s, Ind., the St. Joseph River 
near the latter and the lakes at the former making these places 
ecologically among the best in the county for finding a large 
variety of birds. 
My object in keeping daily records of all the birds I see is to 
ascertain which species are widely distributed in each month of the 
year. I also have in mind to note, as accurately as a single person 
can, the dates of the arrival and departure of each species. 
The reader will be enabled to see by looking at my daily lists 
of birds found during May which species are very common, fairly 
common, rare or very rare. Those recorded but a few times are 
generally migrants which were passing to the north or late from 
the south. 
The Screech Owl and Nighthawk are seldom seen here at this 
time of the year. The Bittern, Alder Flycatcher, Loon and 
Yellow-legs are birds that nest in low land near the water. The 
writer had no opportunity of visiting such a locality. The Cardinal, 
Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Scarlet Tanager usually prefer quiet 
places in uninhabited woods for nesting. 
It is interesting to note that certain species were not seen at all 
during the month. Such are the Hairy Woodpecker, Downy 
Woodpecker, Vellow-bellied Sapsucker, Chickadee, Ruby-throated 
Hummingbird, Bobwhite, Whip-poor-will and Loggerhead Shrike. 
Most of these biras nest in deep woods, none of which were visited 
by the writer. The Shrike is a quiet bird that nests in hedges. 
The Hummingbird did not arrive until June. The writer has never 
Seen a Sapsucker in the spring after April. 
These four species were seen every day during the month: 
Song Sparrow, Purple Grackle, Chipping Sparrow, Robin. 
