The Bobolink 97 



ing the bobolinks. For this purpose, poles from ten 

 to twelve feet high were set up in various parts of the 

 rice fields, at the tops of which were small platforms, 

 and upon these meat was placed to attract the buzzards. 

 These large birds flying about were mistaken by the 

 bobolinks for 'hawks, and for a time this worked 

 admirably, but as soon as the birds discovered their 

 mistake the buzzards no longer alarmed them 



The bobolink question in the South is indeed a 

 serious one, and the circumstances connected with it, 

 though probably natural, are extremely interesting to a 

 student of bird life. The bobolinks make havoc in 

 the rice fields because man has selected for his own use 

 the resting and feeding places which the birds have had 

 since before the settlement of the country. If either 

 is an usurper it is man. From the early bird history it 

 is noted that the habits of the bobolink have remained 

 practically the same ; namely, the course of migration, 

 the food habits, the love for the open meadow where it 

 nests, and the points of departure and returi to the 

 United States are all unchanged. 



When the forests of the Northern States gave place 

 to meadow lands, the nesting territory of the boboUnks 

 was greatly enlarged, and was no doubt a factor in 

 increasing their numbers. 



During their spring migration northward from South 



