Concord, Mass.
1909 
March 21 
(No 2) 
flying down river past Davis Hill. It is evident 
that small as well as large, birds are unusually scarce
for this season and that of such species as the Robin, 
Song Sparrow, Junco, Tree Sparrow, Red wing and 
Rusty Blackbird only a very few pioneer individuals 
have as yet arrived. Even Blackbirds are very few 
in number (I saw only one today but it was 
singing divinely, near the house, about noon).
This is all the more remarkable & indeed mysterious
in view of the fact that there is little or no snow
(and there has been none for a week) except in
shaded places in the woods. The nights are perhaps
exceptionally cold & this may be holding back the birds.
I heard only one Song Sparrow all this morning. Saw
a few Tree Sparrows (four or five) in bushes near the
river meadow, behind Ball's Hill. 