1897
April
No 2
Concord, Mass.
  Sialia sialis. One pair established and no doubt nesting
in Benson's orchard, another among the willow
stubs along the river between the Holt and Hunts
Pond. I have also heard a male singing rather
frequently in the orchard near the W. Bedford station.
About Concord proper I have been rather fewer
Bluebirds this season than last but I have spent
little time there. Faxon tells me that they
have increased amazingly since last year in
the Belmont - Arlington region where he thinks
they have about regained their normal abundance.
A similar increase is reported by Charles Faxon for
the West Roxbury region.
  Sitta canadensis. - W. Bartlett tells me that Canada Nuthatches
wintered commonly near Concord. I left three or
four birds in the Ball's Hill region last November
& found them there on my return (I saw three Apr. 25th
on April 30th) haunting chiefly Bensen's pine ridge
& Davis's Hill. On several occasions one of these
has visited the cabin to feed on some mutton fat
which I hung up in the oak in front of my door to
attract the Chickadees & Downy Woodpeckers.
  Vireo solitarius. The only bird which I have met with
during the month was a male in full song
near the cabin at Ball's Hill early on the morning
of April 27th. Apparently these vireos have not
increased (at least in Concord) since the severe
blow which befell these in the South a few minutes ago.
I do not think that any have bred were Ball's Hill since. 