38 



THE AUDUBON BULLETIN 



The Western Meadowlark at Rockford 



The western meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) up to a few years ago 

 was entirely unknown in the region around Rockford. A few bird lovers, 

 who had seen this bird in their travels, recognized it by its notes here two 

 or three years ago and it became almost a point of honor to travel north 

 of town to hear this very desirable songster. When silent, it still remained 

 a difficult matter to distinguish between the local meadowlark and the 

 newcomer, and even now few of us care to make definite identification 

 without the telltale song. 



One, who speaks with authority and enjoys the third decade of life, 

 however, avers that the western meadowlark was a familiar summer 

 resident around Roscoe, also on Rock River and twelve miles north of 

 Rockford. This meadowlark was known there for many years and pre- 

 dominated over Sturnella Magna Magna. However, the newcomer in these 

 parts had made a deep impression and found favor with local bird lovers 

 and many returned from their field trips with data, establishing this bird 

 in new fields. 



The first authentic nesting site was found just north of Love's Park, 

 on Rock River, and three miles north of the city limits of Rockford, and 

 later on at the Country Club, and one mile north of our city. The notes 

 of the western meadowlark were next heard just south of the city limits. 

 This spring resident birds were located in all of these places, also one mile due east 

 of the city, one-half mile south of the city limits, four miles southwest of the city on 

 the west side of Rock River and a little later on several birds were heard during the 

 nesting season twenty-two miles southwest of Rockford. 



Thus it can be seen that this species is spreading rapidly. The extremely wet 

 season unquestionably has checked the spread to a certain extent. Last year the 

 notes of the western meadowlark were heard November 7 and a personal impression 

 prevails that this species has a long season of song. 



North of the city it is a common occurrence to see two meadowlarks sitting on 

 neighboring fence posts, one singing the old familiar song, which is immediately entirely 

 drowned out by the explosive and resonant notes of its western relative. 



Paul B. Riis, 

 President Nature Study Society of Rockford. 



Oriole's Nest and Baby's 

 Ring. 



Photo by W. B. Howe. 



The baby's ring was found by 

 a Baltimore oriole, probably on 

 a sidewalk where it had been 

 dropped out of the baby's cab. 

 The bird was attracted by the 

 string attached to the ring. This 

 had been tied about the baby's 

 wrist to hold the ring in place but 

 had become unfastened, and the 

 ring had dropped off. The oriole 

 picked up the string and wove it 

 securely into the side of the nest. 

 allowing the ring to swing free. 

 After the birds left the nest the 

 nest was removed from the tree 

 to be preserved as a curiosity. 



