A BIRD CALENDAR 



Regular daily exercise in the open air throughout the winter 

 is the best prevention for colds and pulmonary diseases, and will 

 keep one in fine, vigorous condition. In this way alone the sport 

 of bird study would save thousands of Uves, giving an interesting 

 incentive to exercise outdoors. 



SPRING 



Spring is the harvest time for photographing birds, in which 

 the nesting season gives by far the greatest opportunities, notably 

 the last week of May and the first three of June. Incubation and 

 rearing of young lasts from slightly over three weeks with the 

 smaller birds to over two months with large ones like hawks or 

 owls. 



Mabch {first half). The first harbinger of spring, the Great 

 Homed Owl, deposits its eggs from the last of February to the 

 early days of March, seldom later, and is ready (?) to be photo- 

 graphed. Bluebirds, Song Sparrows, Robins and Red-winged 

 Blackbirds arrive, early or late, according to the weather. 



Mabch Qast half). The Barred Owl lays from the middle of 

 the month to early April. Early in this period expect the Fox 

 Sparrow, Meadowlark, Rusty Blackbird, Cowbird and Wood- 

 cock, and somewhat later therein the Kingfisher, Grackle, Phoebe, 

 Mourning Dove, Wilson's Snipe, Swamp and Field Sparrows, 

 with Cedar birds, wild ducks and Canada Geese in fiocks. Be 

 keen to get the first records of the season for the birds' arrivals, 

 and the last ones of their departures. 



Apbil {early). Red-tailed Hawk and Woodcock lay, also 

 Long-eared, Screech and Saw-whet Owls, and some of the Red- 

 shouldered Hawks. A few more arrivals straggle in, such as the 

 Ruby-crowned Kinglet and more of the hardier Golden-crown, 

 which also winters. Vesper and Savanna Sparrows, Purple Finch, 

 Myrtle and Yellow Palm Warblers, Great Blue Heron, American 

 Pipit. Various ducks, the Loon, and the Holboell's Grebe are 

 in transit, and may visit any inland waters. 



April {middle). Most of the Red-shouldered Hawks have 

 laid by this time, also the Dusky Duck. Bluebirds, Crows and 



281 



