1906
May 28
  A heavy north-easterly rain storm began yesterday afternoon
and has continued through to-day without the slightest signs
of abating. The rainfall has been heavy and continuous and
the brooks are already swollen as they have not been before 
this year. When I visited Ball's Hill this afternoon I
found that the river was rising rapidly. It will probably
submerge the meadows and drown out the Red-wings again.
Their nests were destroyed in this way in 1903 and 1904
but last year the few birds that frequented those meadows
were not disturbed by the water. They were very scarce
along the river in April but of late I have seen them
in Great Meadows in mostly their normal numbers.
  With few exceptions the finest singers among our
local birds are at their best musically, for only a
very short period. Seldom, indeed, exceeding a week and 
sometimes not more than three or four days. This is true 
of the Robin, Wood Thrush, Bluebird, Cat bird, Thrasher,
Grosbeak, Bobolink, and Vesper and Field Sparrows. Many
of the second class performers, such as the Song Sparrow,
Towhee, Tanager and all the Vireos, sing equally well for
several weeks in succession. Already the best of the
spring singing is over. The Bluebirds have been wholly silent
for weeks, the Thrashers, Grosbeaks, Bobolinks, Vesper Sparrows
and Field Sparrows have nearly ceased the rapturous singing
of a week or two ago. The Cat birds are still in nearly 
full song. The Wood Thrushes have become almost wholly
silent. Strange to say I have heard only one Veery
sing this spring although the birds are as numerous here
as usual and I am constantly in or near their haunts.
Briefness of the singing  season