79

Concord, Mass.
1916
Aug. 30
to
Nov. 4

Blue Jay migration.

earlier, it reached its maximum height between the 20th [September 20, 1916]
and 25th [September 25, 1916] of the month when, for three or four days in succession,
the loud-voiced birds were so abundant and wide-spread
that one could not go anywhere without having them about
constantly in sight or hearing. During this period they especially
frequented our deciduous woods through which they roamed
ceaselessly in small scattered flocks, seeking food which must
have been rather scarce for most of the trees had suffered
too severely from the attacks of gypsy moth & other larvae
to mature fruit of any kind. There was, however, a single
large scarlet oak growing in an open field, which, having
been protected by spraying, bore a plentiful crop of acorns &
on these the Jays feasted as long as they lasted, holding
them underfoot while hammering them with their beaks
to remove the outer shell and thronging the tree at all
hours of the day. I saw them thus engaged for the last