Bird-Lore's Thirteenth Bird Census 



THE main fact revealed by the Christmas Census of 191 2 is the absence 

 of truly boreal birds, and the presence of others which are wintering 

 north of their regular limits. Thus, while Pine Grosbeaks, Redpolls, 

 etc., are wanting, an exceptional number of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers and 

 Kingfishers are recorded from the Middle States. The absence of snow and 

 the mild weather which prevailed to the day before Christmas favorably 

 affected the food-supply of other birds which customarily winter in more 

 southern latitudes and, as a result, many of the censuses from the Middle 

 East contain an unusually large number of species. 



First place, however, again goes to Santa Barbara, from which favored 

 locality W. Leon Dawson and Allan Brooks send a list of no less than 103 

 species observed by themselves on December 26, exceeding by three species 

 the phenomenal list of 100 species which Mr. Dawson and Stewart Edward 

 White recorded on December 23, 191 1. 



In the future, we hope that when several observers send but one list they 

 will state whether it is the combined results of individual observations in 

 different parts of the same general locality, or whether they all covered the 

 same ground together. 



The former method is so much better designed to reveal the real number 

 of species present than the latter that, for purposes of comparison, it is 

 desirable to know under just what conditions a list signed by two or more 

 persons is made. 



The editor desires to acknowledge the invaluable assistance of Waldron 

 DeWitt Miller and Charles H. Rogers in preparing the following censuses for 

 the press. He regrets to say that, in spite of explicit directions and a long- 

 established model, many censuses have to be rewritten, and he is correspond- 

 ingly grateful to those contributors to the census whose manuscripts con- 

 form to style. — Ed. 



Guelph, Ontario. — Dec. 21; 8.30 a.m. to 12.50 p.m.; 1.45 to 5.30 p.m. Snowing; 

 about five inches of snow; wind southwest, moderate; temp. 20 . Great Blue Heron, 1; 

 Ruffed Grouse, 3; Cooper's Hawk (?), 1; Belted Kingfisher, 1; Hairy Woodpecker, 1; 

 Crow, 2; Tree Sparrow, 19; Junco, 21; Brown Creeper, 6; White-breasted Nuthatch, 4; 

 Chickadee, 42; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 7. Total, 12 species, 108 individuals. A Saw- 

 whet Owl and a Red-breasted Nuthatch were seen on December 1 and a Goldfinch on 

 December 14, 15 and 24. — E. W. Calvert. 



London, Ontario. — Dec. 21; 2.45 to 4.45 p.m. Cloudy; snowing slightly; light breeze, 

 west; about five inches of snow; temp. 29 . Hairy Woodpecker, 1; Downy Woodpecker, 

 2; Crow, 1; Red-winged Blackbird, 1 (first winter record); Goldfinch, 1; Junco, 10; 

 Northern Shrike, 1; White-breasted Nuthatch, 3; Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1; Chickadee, 

 6; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 2; Robin, 2. Total, 12 species, 31 individuals. Also seen 

 within a day or two: Kingfisher, Red-shouldered Hawk, Blue Jay, Song Sparrow, 

 Brown Creeper. An unusual number of birds seem to be staying over this winter. — ■ 

 C. G. Watson, J. F. Calvert and Melville Dale. 



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