1 84 The Migration of Birds 



Every moment is precious, for the migration wave will 

 probably reach its height between May third and 

 fourteenth. The hedges and small groves are thronged 

 with migrants. Their plumage is spotless, and in 

 most species the males are easily recognized by 

 their bright colors. This is the time to add new 

 names to your bird list, for upon their return, al- 

 though upon the whole they move more leisurely, 

 there will be the young, and many of the old birds 

 will have changed color by moulting, thus making 

 identification more difficiilt. 



By May fifth we should have the night hawk, king 

 bird, great crested flycatcher, wood pewee, orchard 

 and Baltimore orioles, indigo bunting, ruby-throated 

 humming bird, scarlet tanager, white-eyed vireo, long- 

 billed marsh wren, Wilson's thrush, chat, and our 

 remaining warblers. By the end of the first week 

 in June we have the birds that intend to remain with 

 us during the nesting season. 



One of the earliest nesting birds is the great horned 

 owl. This nest is sometimes found by the latter 

 part of February. The early migrants, that remain 

 with us, begin to nest in the latter part of March or 

 the first of April. 



It seems as though we hardly get used to the birds 

 being with us before some of them are preparing to 



