14 THE AUDUBON TEU Lier oe 

Winter Birds in Manitoba 
RutTHVEN DEANE 
OR several years there has not been any conspicuous incursion of 
such species of Hawks and Owls as extend their winter range as 
far south as Illinois. We expect them to be more in evidence 
beyond the Canadian border, but even as far north as Manitoba their 
numbers vary according to climatic influence and food supply, prin- 
cipally the latter. In 1905 oné taxidermist at Winnipeg received about 
one hundred Snowy Owls and they were abundant all over the Prov- 
ince; and in the winter of 1906-07 they were reported equally abundant. 
The following letter relating to winter birds, received from Mr. C. 
G. Harrold of Winnipeg, Man., under date of March g, 1924, contains 
items of much interest: 
“In regard to the relative abundance of winter birds, there has been 
a heavy migration of Great Gray Owls to the east of Winnipeg, following 
the spruce bush during the last two winters. Their numbers were far 
greater during the winter of 1922-23 than this winter. The stomachs of 
those which I examined contained a far larger number of shrews than 
voles, the record being nine in one specimen. I do not know whether this 
is due to the birds’ preference, or simply because shrews are more plenti- 
ful than voles in spruce bush. 
‘There is an almost complete absence of Snowy Owls on the prairies 
this winter, but they were abundant last winter. One female weighing 
six and one half pounds had twenty-four voles in its stomach. Evening 
Grosbeaks are hardly as common this winter as usual, possibly due to 
the fact that there are very few maple seeds on the trees. Pine Gros- 
beaks and Bohemian Waxwings are in average numbers. A few im- 
mature Goshawks were taken in the fall, but there has not been a real 
migration of this species in this region for some years. In the fall of 
1922-23 we had a noticeable incursion of Magpies.” 
Big Order tor Robins 
R. F. B. RUTHERFORD, Operative Manager of the Pennsyl- 
vania S. P. C. A., sends us this true story. It appears that a 
robin built its nest last spring near the top of a pile of white oak plank- 
ing belonging to the Birch Valley Lumber Company of Tioga, West 
Virginia. When a Philadelphia lumber concern sought to buy the lum- 
ber it received the following answer:—‘‘If you should care for this car 
of lumber we would not accept your order unless we could hold same 
for two or three weeks. The truth is, a robin has built a nest in the pile 
and has hatched out a nice family. We are going to give them a chance.” 
