Bird-Lore, March-April 1916

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Transcriber's Note

Italic text is denoted by _underscores_; bold text by =equal signs=; and bold, italic text by +plus signs+. The oe ligature was replaced by the individual letters.

VOL. XVIII MARCH-APRIL, 1916 20c. a Copy

No. 2 $1 a Year

Bird-Lore

[Illustration (birdhouse in field)]

EDITED BY

FRANK M. CHAPMAN

PUBLISHED FOR THE AUDUBON SOCIETIES

BY

D. Appleton & Company

HARRISBURG, PA. NEW YORK

COPYRIGHT, 1916, BY FRANK M. CHAPMAN _R. Weber_.

Bird-Lore

March-April, 1916

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CONTENTS

=GENERAL ARTICLES= Page Frontispiece in Color--Bush-Tits, Verdin, and Wren-Tit _Louis Agassiz Fuertes_ The World's Record for Density of Bird Population. Illustrated by the author _Gilbert H. Grosvenor_ 77 The Robin in Yosemite. Verse _Garrett Newkirk_ 84 The Spring Migration of 1915 at Raleigh, N. C. _S. C. Bruner and C. S. Brimley_ 85 First Efforts at Bird Photography. Illustrated by the author _H. Tra Hartshorn_ 88 Long-eared Owl on Nest. Illustration _H. and E. Pittman_ 91 The Interesting Barn Owl. Illustrated by the author _Joseph W. Lippincott_ 92 Photographs of Flickers _Arthur A. Allen_ 96 The Migration of North American Birds. Illustrated by Louis Agassiz Fuertes _W. W. Cooke_ 97 Notes on the Plumage of North American Birds. Thirty-seventh Paper _Frank M. Chapman_

=NOTES FROM FIELD AND STUDY= 100 A Correction; Hints for Bird Clubs, _W. M. Buswell_; Ornithological Possibilities of a Bit of Swamp Land, _Arthur P. Stubbs_; My Neighbor's Sparrow Trap, _Charles R. Keyes_; A Tropical Migration Tragedy; A Shower of Birds, _R. L. Tripp_; A Heron's Involuntary Bath, _John R. Tooker_; Winter Notes From Carlisle, Ind., _J. H. Gilliland_; Notes from Nebraska, _Howard Paret_; A Gannet over the Hudson River, _J. T. Nichols_; Petrels on the Hudson, _F. M. Chapman_; Starling in Ohio, _Sheridan T. Wood_; Evening Grosbeaks and Cardinals in Southern Wisconsin, _Ethel A. Nott_; Evening Grosbeaks at Port Henry, N. Y., _Dora B. Harris_; Evening Grosbeak at Glen Falls, N. Y., _E. Eveleen Hathaway_; Evening Grosbeaks at Saratoga Springs, N. Y., _Jacolyn Manning, M. D._; The Evening Grosbeak at Boston, _E. G. and R. E. Robbins_; Evening Grosbeaks at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., _George W. Gray_; Evening Grosbeaks in Lexington, Mass., _Winsor M. Tyler, M. D._; Evening Grosbeaks in Vermont, _L. H. Potter_; Evening Grosbeaks in Connecticut, _Mary Hazen Arnold_; Martin Problems, _May S. Danner_; A Bold Winter Wren, _Edward J. F. Marx_.

=BOOK NEWS AND REVIEWS= 110 Grinnell's Distributional List of California Birds; Taverner on the Food Habits of Cormorants; The Ornithological Magazines.

=EDITORIAL= 112

=THE AUDUBON SOCIETIES--SCHOOL DEPARTMENT= 113 Bird and Arbor Day--An Awakening, _A. H. W._; Junior Audubon Work; Ways of Keeping up Interest in Bird Study; For and From Adult and Young Observers, Red-wing Blackbird. Ills.

=EDUCATIONAL LEAFLET No. 85.= Chestnut-sided Warbler. With colored plate by Bruce Horsfall _T. Gilbert Pearson_ 128

=AUDUBON SOCIETIES--EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT= 132 A Case in Point; A Feeding-Shelf; Photographing Water-Fowl; Birds and the Cold Spell; Florence Merriam Bailey; New Members and Contributors; The Virginia Game Bill; Notes From the Field.

*.* _Manuscripts intended for publication, books, etc., for review and exchanges, should be sent to the Editor, at the American Museum of Natural History, 77th St. and 8th Ave., New York City._

=Notices of changes of addresses, renewals and subscriptions should be sent to BIRD-LORE, HARRISBURG, PA.=

=Please remit by Draft or Money Order=

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Important Notice to All Bird-Lore Subscribers

=Bird-lore= is published on or near the first days of February, April, June, August, October, and December. Failure to secure the copy due you should be reported not later than the 18th of the months above mentioned. We cannot supply missing copies after the month in which the number in question was issued.

Entered as second-class mail matter in the Post Office at Harrisburg, Pa.

* * * * *

[Illustration (Wren House)]

Send $1 for this famous

WREN HOUSE

Known as Jennie's Choice

For three seasons "Jennie" preferred this House where there was a choice of fifty.

A. P. GREIM

"Birdville" TOMS RIVER, N. J.

* * * * *

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[Illustration: Our Indorsement.]

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Mention this magazine and send 10 cts. for our beautifully illustrated bird-house booklet.

JACOBS BIRD-HOUSE COMPANY

404 S. Washington St., Waynesburg, Pa.

* * * * *

[Illustration (Publisher's Logo)]

+Just the Book to Interest Children in Bird Study+

=LITTLE BIRD BLUE=

By William L. and Irene Finley

"No child can read this beautifully printed and illustrated book without having his love for the bluebird increased; even the adult will find much pleasure in text, illustrations, and exquisite make-up."--_Guide to Nature._

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"Children could hardly have a more happy introduction to bird-study."--_Lexington Herald._

"One of the most entertaining books for juveniles."--_Boston Globe._

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"Mr. and Mrs. Finley have written the book with much charm, and woven into the story a great deal of bird-lore."--_Portland Evening Telegram._

_Profusely illustrated with drawings by Bruce Horsfall and photographs by Mr. Finley. Price 75 cents net._

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN CO.,

4 Park Street 16 East 49th St.

BOSTON NEW YORK

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=Everything from "Soup to Nuts" for the Birds=

Try Evang Bros. Mixtseed for Native and Migratory Birds! Large size package, 50 cents.

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=Bird Gardening=

WALTER M. BUSWELL, at present the Superintendent of the famous Bird Sanctuary of the Meriden Bird Club, is prepared to give expert advice on all matters pertaining to the attraction and protection of birds.

=Address: Meriden, New Hampshire=

* * * * *

I should be pleased to have any MUSEUM or HIGH SCHOOL desiring to secure an excellent ORNITHOLOGICAL and OÖLOGICAL COLLECTION for study and scientific purposes communicate with me.

=GEO. W. AMES=

=No. 707 Washington Avenue=

=Bay City, Mich.=

* * * * *

+To Bird-Lovers+

Use Comstock's

BIRD NOTEBOOKS

Nos. 1 and 2

in your bird study

Each book has outlines for recording location, size, nesting, habits, etc., for use in the field. In addition, book No. 1 has 30, and book No. 2 has 28 outline drawings of birds (by Louis Agassiz Fuertes), on watercolor paper for recording the colors.

These books are used in quantity in classes, rural, city and normal schools and colleges.

Pocket size, 124 pages

30 cts. each, 50 cts. set of two

_Send for circular of the Nature

Notebook Series_

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110 Roberts Place, Ithaca, N. Y.

* * * * *

[Illustration: _Wren House No. 6_]

=Do You Love Birds?=

Encourage them to live in your gardens. Use our successful bird-houses for Wrens, Chickadees, Bluebirds and Purple Martins. Strongly made--well painted, to resist weather. Prices 35¢ to $10. Design illustrated $1 50. Our reliable wire Sparrow Trap endorsed by U. S. Government, $3 F. O. B. Dubuque. _Write for free illustrated Folder No. 233-B._

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* * * * *

=Bird-Lores Wanted=

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_(The publishers of BIRD-LORE respectfully urge subscribers who desire to have unbroken files of the magazine, to renew their subscription at the time of its expiration.)_

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Vol. I, Nos. 2, 3, 4; Vol. II, Nos. 1, 2, 3, 5; Vol. III, Nos. 4, 5; Vol. XIII, Nos. 1, 2. PHILIP DOWELL, Port Richmond, N. Y.

Vol. I, Nos. 2, 3, 4, 6; Vol. II, Nos. 2, 3, 5; Vol. III, Nos. 1, 2, 4; Vol. IV, Nos. 1, 2; Vol. V, No. 1; Vol. VII, No. 1; Vol. IX, Nos. 3, 6; Vol. X, Nos. 1, 3, 4, 5; Vol. XII, Nos. 4, 6; Vol. XIII, Nos. 1, 2, 4; Vol. XIV, Nos. 1, 2; Vol. XV, No. 6. W. H. BROOMHALL, Stockport, Ohio.

Vol. XII, No. 5; Vol. XV, No. 6; Vol. XVI, Nos. 1, 2. WILLARD L. METCALF, 140 W. 79th Street, New York.

Vol. III, No. 2; will pay $2. E. W. HADELER, Painesville, Ohio.

Vol. XIII, No. 1. E. S. WILSON, 1044 Congress Ave., Indianapolis, Indiana.

Vol. X, No. 3; will pay $1. P. S. MCGLYNN, Moline, Ill.

Vol. XI, complete. A. J. ANDERSON, 1822 West Palmer Avenue, Sioux City, Ia.

Vol. XVI, Nos. 1, 2. A. D. TINKER, 631 S. 12th St., Ann Arbor, Mich.

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PUBLISHER'S NOTE.--Complete sets of BIRD-LORE can no longer be supplied by the publishers, and now bring nearly three times the price at which they were issued. To subscribers who desire to complete their files, we offer the free use of our advertising columns.

* * * * *

[Illustration: Note: Frontispiece

1. Bush-Tit 2. Lead-colored Bush-Tit 3. Lloyd's Bush-Tit, Male 4. Lloyd's Bush-Tit, Female 5. Verdin 6. Wren-Tit

(One-half natural size)]

=Bird-Lore=

A BI-MONTHLY MAGAZINE

DEVOTED TO THE STUDY AND PROTECTION OF BIRDS

Official Organ of The Audubon Societies

================================================================

Vol. XVIII March-April, 1916 No. 2

================================================================

The World's Record for Density of Bird Population

By GILBERT H. GROSVENOR

Editor of the National Geographic Magazine

With photographs by the author

In the winter of 1913, our family bought a farm of one hundred acres, fifty acres in forest and fifty in fields, in Montgomery County, Maryland, about ten miles from Washington. We moved out in April. At the time, no members of the family, including my wife, six children, and myself, could name more than three birds--the Crow, the Robin, and the Turkey Buzzard. We had, however, become interested in birds, owing to our friendship for the Editor of BIRD-LORE, and for other Audubon workers, and determined to see what we could do to get birds around the home, which we named 'Wild Acres.'

The house is a typical old farmhouse, surrounded by an old apple and pear orchard, with vegetable garden and hedges, and open fields beyond. Surrounding the fields is a tract of fifty acres in woods, with a beautiful stream, and several springs scattered around in the fields and woods.

The first thing we did was to drive away the English Sparrows which had possession of the place. We got small shot-guns, and, whenever a Sparrow appeared, shot him. It wasn't long before those that were not shot, left. We then made houses for Martins, Wrens, Bluebirds and Flickers, some of which were immediately occupied. We had such success that in the winters of 1914 and 1915 we put up more houses, and in the spring of 1915 had attracted so many birds around the house that Dr. H. W. Henshaw, the Chief of the U. S. Biological Survey of the Department of Agriculture, became interested, and delegated Dr. Wells W. Cooke to visit our place. Dr. Cooke was so impressed by the number of feathered friends that we had gathered around us that he urged me to make a census of the birds living on an acre or two adjacent to the house, as he thought it probable that a count would bring us a world record. The record up to this time was held by a family in Chevy Chase, Maryland, who had attracted thirteen pairs of birds to one half-acre.

[Illustration: A BLUEBIRD'S NEST BOX, IN WHICH A PAIR OF BLUEBIRDS REARED THREE BROODS IN 1914, AND AGAIN IN 1915]

The prospect of securing a world's record was so inviting that, during the last week of June, 1915, I made a census of all birds nesting on the acre adjoining our house and barns, with the result that we found fifty-nine pairs of birds with young or eggs in the nest on that acre, the highest number of land-birds inhabiting one acre that has yet been reported to the Department of Agriculture or to any Audubon society. The details of the census are presented below:

LIST OF BIRDS NESTING ON ONE ACRE ADJACENT TO THE HOUSE AND BARNS OF GILBERT H. GROSVENOR IN THE WEEK OF JUNE 15-21, 1915

(Only pairs whose nests were located with young or eggs in them are counted.)

Flicker* 1 pair Bluebird* 1 " Yellow Warbler 1 " Orchard Oriole 2 " Catbird 2 " Song Sparrow 1 " Chipping Sparrow 2 " Phoebe 1 " House Wren* 14 " Robin 7 " Robin 7 " Kingbird 1 " Martins* 26 " -- Total 59 pairs

English Sparrows 0

The asterisk (*) indicates pairs nesting in boxes put up by the family.

A similar census made of the second adjoining acre showed thirty-three pairs nesting in this area, as follows:

LIST OF BIRDS NESTING ON SECOND ACRE

Song Sparrow 1 pair Carolina Wren* 1 " Flicker* 1 " Maryland Yellow-Throat 1 " Brown Thrasher 1 " House Wren* 4 " Robin 2 " Catbird 1 " Chipping Sparrow 1 " Screech Owl* (no young in nest June 15, as brood had already left) 1 " Martins* 18 " Towhee 1 " -- Total 33 pairs

English Sparrows 0

[Illustration: A MARTIN HOUSE IN THE MEADOW, ABOUT ONE HUNDRED YARDS FROM THE HOUSE

It is advisable not to place the Martin box too near the house, for the birds begin to chatter long before dawn, and will awaken the household.]

[Illustration: MARTIN HOUSE IN THE HEN-YARD OCCUPIED BY TWENTY-FIVE PAIRS OF MARTINS IN 1914 AND 1915.

The Martins are very efficient guardians of our chickens. I have often seen them drive the Hawks and Crows away. They hate Buzzards also.]

I attribute our success primarily to shooting the Sparrows and driving all cats away, to putting up many boxes, to keeping fresh water handy at all times, etc. We did everything we could for the comfort of our birds; for instance, we put on twigs little pieces of the oil-paper that our butter was wrapped in, and we left mud in convenient places for the Martins. The Catbirds used the oil-paper for their nests, in fact, they used all kinds of scraps. Imagine the delight of the family when, on examining one of the Catbird's nests in the autumn, we found one of the children's hair-ribbons, and also a piece of an old dress of the baby!

[Illustration: A SCREECH OWL'S NEST

This box was put up for Flickers in the winter of 1914. Flickers took possession in March, but were driven out by Sparrow Hawks. But the Sparrow Hawks were frightened away two weeks later by the too great prominence of the position. Later a pair of Screech Owls adopted it for their home. Last winter we took the box down and carried it to the barn, to serve as a model for making other boxes. On opening it we found a live owl inside.]

[Illustration: A SPARROW HAWK'S NEST ON THE EDGE OF THE WOODS

We had much difficulty in keeping red and flying squirrels out of the houses placed near the woods. In 1915 red squirrels drove out a pair of Flickers brooding in a box on the forest edge.]

We had read a great deal about how tame birds become when they are protected, but were constantly amazed at the quickness with which they perceived the care taken of them. Perhaps the most remarkable nest was that of a Phoebe, which was built under the cornice of the piazza, within reach of my hand. We had a little school in the morning at the house, and ten children were continually running up and down the piazza, shouting at the top of their voices, but the Phoebe went on building her nest, then hatched her eggs and fed her young without fear, though she could see everyone and everyone could see her.

I was also surprised to find how friendly birds, even of the same species, can become. For instance, we had fourteen pairs of Wrens on a single acre, some of the nests being not more than fifteen feet apart. We also had Robins nesting only twelve yards apart. The Bluebirds, on the other hand, do not like each other and would not tolerate another pair of Bluebirds nearer than 100 yards.

[Illustration: A FLICKER WAS NESTING IN BOX AND DID NOT STIR, THOUGH THERE WERE FIVE CHILDREN IN THE TREE AND FOUR BELOW WHEN THIS PHOTOGRAPH WAS TAKEN. (June 7, 1914.)]

[Illustration: AN APARTMENT HOUSE FOR WRENS

When we started building houses, we did not realize that Wrens would not share a house with another pair of Wrens. This house has rooms for eighteen pairs of Wrens. The room on the left was occupied in 1913, 1914 and 1915, and all the other rooms were vacant. Note Wren on box.]

[Illustration: A WREN HOUSE IN THE GARDEN

Note the Wren on the perch. We had fourteen pairs of house Wrens nesting on one acre adjoining the house and barns in 1915. This is the largest number reported of Wrens living on one acre.]

The first year we had no Flickers, but there was a pair nesting in an old apple tree on our neighbor's property. During the winter the tree was blown down and our oldest son obtained permission to get it. He cut out the portion of the tree which contained the nest, cleaned out the hole, and then hung the nest in a dying cherry tree, as shown in our illustration. The nest was not more than ten yards from the house, but was taken possession of in 1914 and again in 1915.