27
Concord, Mass.
Spring and early summer 
1913.

62  Bobolink.  Arrived May 2 [May 2, 1913] (1 [in full song], Moore farm). Bred in about normal
numbers in Lawrence's fields, in Howe's meadow and about West Bedford
Station. Thus I could hear them singing at almost any hour while at
the Farm or at Ball's Hill. What their numerical status was this
year on the slightly elevated grassy benches along the river between the
Holt and Flint's bridge I failed to ascertain for I made no use
whatever of my canoes and did not once go above Bensen's landing by
boat. On June 21 [June 21, 1913] I heard two [males] in full, rapturous song in McGrath's
meadow. One continued to sing at intervals for several minutes carrying
all the while in his bill a dangling mass of limp larvae for his
young. Two adult [males] accompanied by about ten [females] & young were seen
in the meadows by Gilbert on July 1 [July 1, 1913].

63. Cow-bird.  March 18 - June 29. Present in normal numbers
haunting chiefly the cultivated fields and orchards in the
neighborhood of the farm. The field directly in front of our house
especially attracted them after it had been ploughed, harrowed and sown
to millet. Here on the afternoon of May 23 [May 23, 1913] I saw a [male] alight
by the side of a [female] with whom he had brief sexual intercourse after
strutting about her once or twice puffing out his plumage and uttering
the o-eek note. Most of the birds noted were in pairs but sometimes
there would be 2 [males] keeping company with one [female]. The long-drawn
whistled flight call was heard frequently through April & May & occasionally
in June.

64. Red-winged Blackbird. Exceptionally numerous in March and
April when flocks containing anywhere from 50 to 200 numbers each
were seen frequently along the river near Ball's Hill or in neighboring
cultivated fields. But when the breeding season began the birds did not
seem more abundant than usual. After they had laid their eggs in early
May the marshes were reflooded by heavy rains & most of the nests doubtless submerged.
The birds returned after the waters had receded but not as numerously as
before. They were shot at a good deal in May by vandals in boats armed with small
bore rifles.