2o Joint Bulletin 2 



REPORT ON A COURSE IN BIRD STUDY, UNIVERSITY 

 OF VERMONT SUMMER SCHOOL, IN 1915 



H. F. Perkins. 



The course was offered under the joint auspices of the university 

 and the National Association of Audubon societies. Among the stu- 

 dents were high school teachers, including two principals. All had 

 some previous knowledge of birds and were able to identify many 

 of the more common species. The work was as largely field observa- 

 tion as possible. A careful record of species positively identified by 

 two or more members of the class in the field shows 68 names. The 

 identification of a large number of species was merely preliminary, the 

 general work of the class being the study of conditions, habits, distri- 

 bution and nesting. Each member of the class selected a principal 

 genus upon which most of the work was done. 



Excursions were made to a number of points at a distance from 

 Burlington, including Fort Frederick, Ausable Chasm and Mount Mans- 

 field. 



One species which was unusually abundant during the season of 

 1915 was the myrtle warbler. This was found in considerable num- 

 bers at most of the localities visited and was especially noted on the 

 summit of Mount Mansfield. Among the somewhat unusual opportuni- 

 ties for study of particular species may be mentioned that of making 

 repeated observations upon the Maryland yellow throat, cedar waxwing, 

 scarlet tanager and pine siskin. 



A large number of vesper sparrows and of meadow larks, especially 

 their young just out of the nest, offered an excellent chance for care- 

 ful observations upon these two interesting forms. 



The nests and eggs of nearly a dozen species were observed at 

 various times by the class. 



In addition to the class work the individual students kept records 

 of their own findings and reported as many as 85 species of birds ob- 

 served during the six weeks of the course. 



Museum specimens of sparrows and warblers to the number of 52 

 were studied without any labels being present to aid in identifying. 

 The class became proficient in this work to such an extent that they 

 w r ere able to identify any one of the 52 at sight. 



One of the interesting experiences of the class was a visit to 

 the Four Brothers Islands where the herring gull nests in the spring 

 in large numbers. Although the nesting season was over, the empty 



