May, 1911 
MY AVIAN VISITORS: NOTES FROM SOUTH DAKOTA 
101 
of that valley was thus abruptly changed, for amid the songs of the Meadowlarks, 
Red-wings, L,ark Buntings, and Bobolinks, the “chip, chip, chee! chee! chee!” of 
the Black-throats was very noticeable. About two weeks after the above date I 
found a bunting’s nest containing four eggs. The next year, also, they came to 
Lake Creek in June, and without any doubt, too, they must have returned to their 
haunts at the other points where I had found them on previous occasions. I think 
that these various records are sufficient to establish for the Black-throated Bunting, 
or Dickcissel, the right to be called a member of the avifauna of Pine Ridge reser- 
vation. 
Were it not for the parasitic habits of the Cowbird {Molothrus ater\ literally, 
“black vagabond, ” an appropriate name), one might doubtless take a liking to 
him. It is a well-known fact that the female cowbirds clandestinely deposit their 
eggs in the nests of other, and usually smaller, kinds of birds, and that in most in- 
.stances the young Cowbirds who in due time arrive are well-cared for by the dupes 
of foster parents, generally to the neglect of their legitimate offspring. Cowbirds 
are often seen folloy'ing grazing cattle and horses, and engaged in capturing the 
insects that are attracted to these animals, whence comes the common name of the 
bird. But though they accompany roving cattle and were formerly followers of 
the herds of buffaloes, as the “old timers” tell us, I have seen them follow the 
plow also. One spring, when a tract of virgin prairie w^as being broken up, a flock 
of about twenty Cowbirds, male and female, were on hand, and devoured great 
numbers of the grubs of May-beetles which abounded among the grass roots. 
Where I first knew them in Illinois, northwest of the state center, the Cow- 
birds arrived early in April, as a rule. In Dakota they appeared from three to four 
weeks later than this, and departed some time before the middle of October. In 
the summers of 1907 and 1908, respectively, I observed that they were very abun- 
dant throughout the lowlands of Lake Creek and in adjacent regions. 
Through sight or sound I was continually apprised of the proximity of many 
birds that seldom, or never, actually stopped on the grounds. In the ev'enings the 
Nighthawks {Chordeiles virginianiis) sailed overhead, and their .sharp and pene- 
trating “spe-eak!” or, at times, their startling “boom!” could be heard on every 
hand. These birds attain their normal abundance in those parts from late in May 
to June 2. In 1904, they suddenly appeared in large numbers over many square 
miles of territory on May 21, and were frequent from that date. By mid-September 
they are off for the south. 
Frequently, and especially in the evenings during falling or threatening 
weather, the shrill vociferations of the Killdeers ( Oxyechus vociferns ) resound on 
all sides. Indeed, when an area of low barometer is upon us, presaging storms, I 
believe that this plover can “feel it in his bones” as early and unmistakably as can 
the most rheumatic of old men. These attractive birds usually arrive late in March 
and are common on April 1. Thus it was, also, when I observed them in north- 
eastern Utah in the spring of 1901. 
Sometimes from the top of a pine a Chewink ( Pipilo Diacitlatiis arcticiis ) gave 
utterance to his song, and when the wind was favorable the ditty could plainly be 
heard at the house. The Chewinks are here in numbers by May 6, or sooner, and 
it is only wffien the first third, or sometimes half, of October is gone, that they no 
longer people the groves and copses. I have seen stragglers at various times 
throughout the winter, however, and have come to the conclusion that when suit- 
able shelter is at hand and the cold season not too severe, individual representatives 
of the species may occasionally remain during the entire year in many localities. 
Within the dank woodland in the abrupt Medicine Root valley, and at no other 
