BIRDS OF NEW YORK 23 



the forest, especially from the open woodland, such as the Mourning dove. 

 Screech owl, Downy woodpecker. Flicker, Least flycatcher, Cowbird, 

 Orchard oriole. Purple finch. White-breasted nuthatch and Chickadee. 



The garden and shrubbery community is represented by the Song sparrow. 

 Chipping sparrow and Yellow warbler. This is also frequently invaded 

 by representatives from the orchards and shade trees as well as from the 

 open woodland and thicket, such as the Catbird, Goldfinch, and Maryland 

 yellowthroat. 



The bird box and barn communities are represented by the Wren, 

 Bluebird, Purple martin. White-breasted swallow. Barn swallow, Eaves 

 swallow, Chimney swift and Phoebe. These species have accommodated 

 themselves most fully to the culture conditions which prevail about towns 

 and dooryards. 



Succession of Bird Life 



Just as a succession of plant formations may be observed in different 

 localities as the climatic and edaphic conditions change, so different bird 

 societies will be found in the same locality, as the plant formations and 

 the various factors of environment vary. When the mature forest is 

 cleared off, the thickets or underbrush which grow up will support various 

 brushland communities; and if the thickets are destroyed by pasturing 

 and cultivation, and grassland succeeds it, the meadow community will 

 occupy the country. Likewise, when marshes are drained, there will 

 usually be a grassland or meadow association succeeding the marsh com- 

 munity which preceded it. If lakes are lowered by the deepening of their 

 outlets, the marshes which are usually found at their heads or near their 

 outlets, become less in area, and grassland communities invade the marsh- 

 land country. This subject is illustrated by the paragraphs on " Potter 

 Swamp," and a " Typical Deciduous Forest." During the last thirty 

 years in western New York I have noticed various illustrations of the 

 succession of bird communities besides those alluded to. When the waters 

 of Canandaigua lake are held up in the springtime at a higher level than 

 formerly prevailed, certain marshlands both at the foot and at the head 



