MICHIGAN ACADEMY OB' 1 SCIENCE. 
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height of the migration period large numbers of Ruby-throated Humming- 
birds come to feed on the small flying insects found around the willow blos- 
soms. One nest of the Scarlet Tanger was found here. A few nests of the 
Warbling Yireo are usually built in the lower branches of the smaller willows. 
CONDITIONS IN SUMMER. 
There is little change from June to the middle of August. Some of the 
low vegetation has seeded and this furnishes food for a few stray birds, but 
as a rule the flora remains about the same. The birds have nearly all finished 
nesting and by the first of July the majority of young are shifting for them- 
selves. 
CHARACTERISTIC SUMMER BIRDS. 
The Mourning Dove, so plentiful before, is found only in limited numbers 
after the first of July. As soon as the nesting season is over, it migrates to 
the dry open fields where seeds are abundant. This is to be expected as 
its food is known to consist principally of seeds and grain, neither of which 
are found to any appreciable extent in this habitat. The Baltimore Oriole 
also leaves toward fall as the insects which before were so plentiful in the 
tops of the willows have then disappeared. Once in a while a Blue Jay 
will be seen here, and now and then a Cowbird. A few Phoebes remain 
throughout the summer. Both the Red-eyed and Warbling Vireos feed 
about the lower branches. The Kingfisher still keeps watch from the dead 
branches projecting out over the water. All thru the summer the pensive 
call, Pee-a-wee, of the Wood Pewee can be heard, even during the heat of 
the day. 
CONDITIONS IN FALL. 
As the season advances, the leaves die and drop off, the vegetation under 
the trees is nearly all dead, and the soil has become dry and hard. By the 
end of October the conditions are about the same as in early spring, except 
for the lack of ice and snow. 
CHARACTERISTIC FALL BIRDS. 
With the return of the migrants the trees are again filled with warblers, 
the same varieties being observed as in spring with the addition of many im- 
mature Blackpolls. The birds do not linger now as they did when passing 
north, possibly because of the scarcity of food, the tree tops which before were 
teeming with insects now harboring relatively few. The Mourning Doves 
still roost in the willows and migrating blackbirds and grackles alight here 
or stay for the night. 
CONDITIONS IN WINTER. 
The arboreal willows offer no inducements to birds in winter, the trees 
are bare, the ground covered with ice and snow except where sheltered by 
brush or trees, and not enough weed seed to attract even a few sparrows. 
CHARACTERISTIC WINTER BIRDS. 
Downy Woodpeckers are sometimes found here hunting for hibernating 
insects and their eggs. Small bands of Chickadees pass through this habitat, 
but seldom linger long because of the scarcity of food. These two species 
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