16 Joint Bulletin 2 



Several pairs of mourning warblers nest on Pine hill, about two 

 miles from Rutland. I have spent considerable time trying to locate 

 their nests, but did not succeed. This is in the locality where I saw 

 a golden-winged warbler last season. ( See notes on golden-winged 

 warbler in this issue of the bulletin i. 



Of the rarer water birds, we have kildeer plover. Bartramian sand- 

 piper, and Virginia rails as breeders. Green herons and American bit- 

 terns are common along Otter creek. 



In the spring of 1914. Mr. G. L. Kirk and I were passing by a 

 pasture bordering on a swamp, just about dusk, and we were very 

 much surprised to hear kildeer plovers' notes. The next day i May 24 > 

 we again visited this place and found the birds with four young. This 

 year there were two pairs in this same place, and on May 8, I found 

 one nest with four eggs two-thirds incubated. This is the only time 

 that I have ever found kildeer nesting in Vermont. 



On May 20, 1915. I was looking for red-winged blackbirds' nests 

 in a swamp in a pasture. Small hillocks were formed in this swamp 

 by cattle walking through the mud. and the blackbirds were nesting in 

 the tall water grass and flags that grew on them. As the cattle paths 

 were filled with water, only the tops of the hillocks were dry, and on 

 one of these I found a Virginia rail's nest containing six fresh eggs. 

 Later. < May 22 i I again visited it. and it contained eight eggs. Each 

 time that I was at the swamp I tried to flush the bird, but failed, so 

 well do they hide in the grass. I heard no call note or note of alarm. 

 I mention this to show how easy it is to overlook this bird. for. if I 

 had not found the nest by accident. I never would have known that 

 the rails were nesting in this swamp. 



About a week later Mr. Kirk and Mr. L. F. Brehmer went to 

 the swamp for the purpose of photographing the nest, and they found 

 it had been destroyed. After going through the swamp several times, 

 they at last succeeded in flushing one of the rails, but could not start 

 it again. Several years ago there was a pair of these shy birds located 

 in the tall grass surrounding a big water hole in the meadow. There 

 are probably several pairs nesting near here each season. 



We have three to five pairs of Bartramian sandpipers that nest 

 each season near the city. 



If any of the club members have ever found golden-winged warb- 

 lers or siskins nesting in Vermont. I would appreciate it if they 

 would advise me. 



