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Vermont Bird Club ~~

BULLETIN NO. 1

MAY, 1906

PUBLISHED ANNUALLY

BY THE CLUB

eee eer uerty eet cence

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Dyn ers.

Vermont Bird Club
QL
x BULLETIN NO. 1

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ad

MAY, 1906

PUBLISHED ANNUALLY

BY THE CLUB

BURLINGTON °
FREE PRESS PRINTING COQ.,
1906.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page
ER EOICLIO <i Cte bs eo Ss Saki oad Maes Cee Nae 5
A History of the Vermont Bird Club............----+-----+-+-- 5
Fourth Annual Field Meeting ~~... .. 2... .- 2-6 6 eee eee eee 7
Fifth Annual Winter Meeting ~........... +. ~~ ~~... ++ +++ +++: 7
A List of Birds Observed in Rutland County. G. H. Ross.... 8
Nesting of the Duck Hawk. W. A. Kent..........--------- -18
Abstracts of Papers Read at the Winter Meeting.........-.--- 14
Nesting of the Pileated Woodpecker. D. BE. Kent.........-.-- 14
Attracting Birds in Winter. A. C. Dike.............------- 15
Two Pinds of 1905: G. H. Ross. ..~. 2 ~~... 6. 1 we ee eens ness 15
Some Adirondack Bird Netes. Miss E. E. Drew.........----- 17
A Preliminary List of Birds of Southern Vermont. Mrs. E. B.
PUA WOTNNE. oS os CRS SSS AUN Ss OSS wee ease sees. 1T
Californian Bird Notes. Nelly Hart Woodworth...........-- LT
The Nest of an Acadian Flycatcher. Dr. L. H. Ross......... 18
Constitution of the Vermont Bird Club............-+-+.++-++- 19
Members of the Vermont Bird Club... ........-.. +++ +++++555- 19
IEEE ES ols te eee akc wie ees ley le Cosh NS SSS ae:
Announcement as to Field Meeting. .. ~~... 2... 6... +655 + 5s 555 22
One copy of this Bulletin is sent to each member of the Club Addt-

tional copies may be secured at eight cents each. Orders for these and

other communications relative to the Bulletin should be addressed te

G. H. Ross, Secretary Vermont Bird Club, Rutland, Vt.

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INTRODUCTION.

The Vermont Bird Club has been in existence nearly five years. It
was formed for the purpose of collecting and preserving information con-
cerning the birds found within the state; of creating and encouraging an
interest in birds; of promoting scientific investigations and of securing
protection of all useful species. Since its organization the feeling has
existed among the members that the proceedings of its meetings should
be printed, thus giving them tangible and permanent form and allowing
those who cannot attend the meetings regularly to keep in closer touch
with the work of the Club. The final expression of this feeling was the
authorization at the last winter meeting of the publication of an annual
Bulletin. It is not the intention to publish a bird magazine, simply a
condensed record of the proceedings of the meetings.

The Vermont Botanical Club will issue a similar bulletin and these
are to be made of like form that those who wish may easily keep and
bind them together.

A HISTORY OF THE VERMONT BIRD CLUB.

In July, 1901, at the annual field meeting of the Vermont Botanical
Club a preliminary meeting was held at which steps were taken toward
the formation of a State Bird Club. Previous to this there had been
some discussion among members of the Botanical Club, who were also
interested in birds, as to the advisability of forming such an organiza-
tion. At this preliminary meeting a committee was appointed with Mr.
Clifton D. Howe as chairman to formulate a constitution to be pre-
sented at a meeting to be held in conjunction with the annual winter
meeting of the Botanical Club at Burlington the following January.

Thus on January 25, 1902, a constitution was adopted and an or-
ganization effected. Prof. G. H. Perkins was chosen president, J. B.
Ham, vice president, and G. H. Ross, secretary and treasurer. In 1903
Carlton D. Howe was chosen vice president. Since that year these officers
have been continuously reelected. An executive committee of three who
are elected annually aid the officers in arranging meetings, programs,
and in other activities of the Club.

At the January meetings officers are elected, other business transacted,
and papers are read and discussed.

As many members of the Bird Club belong also to the Botanical Club,
the annual meetings are held at the same time and the joint session of
the two clubs is a most interesting feature. In arranging programs care

6 BULLETIN No, 1

is taken that separate sessions of the clubs do not occur at the same
hour. The winter meetings heretofore have been held in Burlington, but
an invitation has been accepted to go to St. Johnsbury next year.

At the July meetings the Bird and Botanical Clubs again unite. Field
notes are taken and a general good time is enjoyed.

Summer meetings have been held as follows: On Lake Champlain
in 1902, at Arlington and Manchester in 1903, at Silver Lake and Lake
Dunmore in 1904. At Lake Champlain and Burlington in 1905. It is
planned to visit Mt. Mansfield next July. A report of the summer meet-
ing is always given by some member of the Club at the next winter
meeting.

In 1903 with the purpose of finally securing a correct list of Vermont
birds, the practice was begun of sending to each member a migration
blank upon which to record all species observed during the year. As the
number who returned these blanks to the Secretary was disappointingly
small, the method was changed somewhat. At present, migration blanks
are sent annually to those members who have returned completed records
of the previous year. However, the Secretary will gladly send copies to
other members upon application.

The Club is also interested in bird protection and at the 1904 meet-
ing a committee was appointed to confer with the State Fish and Game
Commission to secure the passage of the A. O. U. Model Bird Law by the
General Assembly.

In connection with the Vermont Audubon Society the Club will soon
issue posters with the bird laws of the state printed thereon and warn-
ings as to their infringement. Some of the posters will be printed in
Italian for the enlightenment of those people who are such wholesale
destroyers of our small birds.

Below are the titles of the more important papers read at the winter
meetings of the Club. In 1t902—Birds at My Home, Mrs. W. C. Horton,
Brattleboro; Bird Ecology, Carlton D. Howe, Essex Junction; Work of
the American Ornithologists’ Union and Origin and Progress of Bird Pro-
tection in the United States, Mrs. E. B. Davenport, Brattleboro. In 1903—
Birds of Mt. Mansfield, Mrs. EF. B. Davenport, Brattleboro, (read in joint
session) ; Nesting of the Golden Crowned Kinglet, G. H. Ross, Rutland; A
Few Suggestions to the Members of the Vermont Bird Club, Carlton D.
Howe. In 1904—Birds of Brandon, Rev. D. D. Chapin, Brandon; Bird
Protection, A. C. Dike, Bristol; Identification of Birds by Their Songs,
Miss I. M. Paddock, St. Johnsbury; Birds of Caspian Lake and Vicinity,
Prof. J. W. Votey, Burlington; A. Tame Ruffed Grouse, C. D. Howe;
Bird Study, an Attractive Element of Nature, Rev. H. E. Thayer, Lud-
low; A Trip to the Farallone Islands, Mrs. E. B. Davenport (read in

VERMONT Birp CLUB Ff

joint session.) In r1905—Nesting of the Duck Hawk, W. A. Kent,
Proctor; Birds of Rutland County, G. H. Ross; Some Warblers I Have
Known, Miss Susan EF. Clark, St. Johnsbury; An Owl Story, Mrs. E. H.
Terry, Northhampton, Mass.; Additional Notes from Mt. Mansfield, Mrs.
FE. B. Davenport; The Work of the Audubon Societies, C. D. Howe (read

in joint session). Abstracts of papers read in I906 are given elsewhere
in this bulletin.

THE FOURTH ANNUAL FIELD MEETING.

The fourth annual field meeting was held July 4 and 5, 1905. The
members assembled at Burlington on the morning of July 4. The steamer
Mariquita had been chartered for a cruise. Landings were made at
Providence Island, Gordon’s and Bow-and-Arrow Point. Pearl Bay was
reached about 6 P. M. and the night spent at the hotel Island Villa. A
business and social meeting was held that evening. As the lake was
rough on July 5, the morning was given to exploring the neighborhood
until train time when the party returned to Burlington by rail and spent
the afternoon at Rock Point and along the beach of Burlington Bay.

FIFTH ANNUAL WINTER MEETING.

The fifth annual winter meeting was held at the University of Ver-
mont Jan. 17-18, 1906. Papers were read during the forenoon and after-
noon of January 17 and the forenoon of January 18. The annual supper
occurred the first evening in thé University Gymnasium. Following the
pleasant custom of the past two years, this was a joint gathering of the
Vermont Bird Club and the Vermont Botanical Club, and was arranged
by the local members of the two, complimentary to the visiting members.
Fifty-four were in attendance. Following the supper some business was
transacted, and the annual roll call occupied the remainder of the even-
ing. The responses to the roll call consisted of brief remarks, often in a
reminiscent vein, or suggestions of club policies or possibilities.

It was voted to publish an annual bulletin, and the following were
chosen as a committee on publication, representing jointly the Botanical
and Bird Clubs; Ezra Brainerd, Mrs. FE. B. Davenport, L. R. Jones, Mrs.
Nellie F. Flynn, Miss Delia Griffin, G. H. Ross, C. D. Howe.

Miss Griffin extended an invitation on behalf of the St. Johnsbury
members and the management of the Fairbanks Museum to the Clubs,
to hold the next winter meeting at St. Johnsbury. This was accepted.

8 BULLETIN No, 1 :

It was voted to hold the next field meeting about July first on Mt.
Mansfield.

The Treasurer, G. H. Ross, reported a balance of $39.00 on hand.

A LIST OF BIRDS OBSERVED IN RUTLAND COUNTY, CHIEFLY
BETWEEN THE YEARS 1888 AND 10906.

(Read at 1905 Meeting by G. H. Ross, Rutland.)

The list is deficient in water birds as few observations were made in
the western part of the county which is bordered by Lake Champlain.
The Otter Creek valley from Danby to Pittsford probably contains about
all species found inhabiting the lower altitudes of Vermont. In the east-
ern end of the county, in Shrewsbury, Mendon and Sherburne there are
three mountain peaks which have an altitude of 3,900 feet, so this county
has most, if not all, the species found in the higher altitudes of the
state. Thus, the birds of Rutland county are fairly typical of the birds
of Vermont.

Podilymbus podiceps, Pied-billed Grebe. Migrant and summer resi-
dent.

Urinator imber, Loon. Migrant.

Uria troile, Murre. One specimen taken in East Wallingford late in
the autumn, so exhausted it could not fly.

Anas obscura, Black Duck. Migrant and summer resident.

Aix sponsa, Wood Duck. Rare summer resident.

Branta canadensis, Canada Goose. Migrant.

Botaurus lentiginosus, American Bittern. Migrant and summer resi-
dent.

Ardea herodias, Great Blue Heron. Migrant and summer resident.

Ardea virescens, Little Green Heron. Migrant and summer resident.

Nycticorax mycticorax mnaevius, Black-crowned Night Heron.
Migrant.

Porzana carolina, Virginia Rail. Migrant and summer resident.

Porzana noveboracensis, Yellow Rail. Migrant.

Gallinula galeata, Florida Gallinule. Summer resident, Lake Bomo-
seen.

Fulica americana, Coot. Migrant.

Philohela minor, American Woodcock. Migrant and summer resi-
dent.

Gallinago delicata, Wilson’s Snipe. Migrant, occasionally winters
near open springy spots.

Totanus melanoleucus, Greater Yellow Legs. Migrant.

VERMONT BirRD CLUB 9

Totanus solitarius, Solitary Sandpiper. Migrant.

: Bartramia longicauda, Bartram’s Sandpiper. Summer resident.
Actitis macularia, Spotted Sandpiper. Common summer resident.
Aegialitis vocifera, Killdeer. Migrant.

Colinus virginianus. Quail. There were a number here for several
years, but none have been seen for five years. Probably descended from
introduced birds. ;

Bonasa umbellus, Ruffed Grouse. Resident.

Bonasa umbellus togata, Canadian Ruffed Grouse. Resident, less
common than preceding,

Ectopistes migratorius, Passenger Pigeon. Migrant. None seen since
1885.

Zenaidura macroura, Mourning Dove. ‘Twice seen during the
breeding season.

Circus hudsonius, Marsh Hawk. Summer resident.

Accipiter velox, Sharp-shinned Hawk. Summer resident.

Accipiter cooperi, Cooper’s Hawk. Summer resident.

Accipiter atricapillus, American Goshawk. Chiefly winter visitant.
Found nest with eggs in Mendon, Vt., 1905-1906.

Buteo borealis, Red-tailed Hawk. Resident. More common in the
hill towns than in valleys.

Buteo lineatus, Red-shouldered Hawk. The common hawk of the
valleys. Breeds.

Buteo latissimus, Broad-winged Hawk. Migrant and rare summer
resident.

Halaeetus leucocephalus, Bald Eagle. Formerly bred at Lake Bomo-
seen, Castleton.

Falco peregrinus anatum, Duck Hawk. Bred at Wallingford.

Falco columbarius, Pigeon Hawk. Migrant.

Falco sparverius, Sparrow Hawk. Summer resident.

Pandion ‘haliaetus carolinensis, Fish Hawk. Migrant.

Strix pratincola, Barn Owl. One adult specimen shot in Danby in
1902.

Asio wilsonianus, Long-eared Owl. Resident.

Asio accipitrinus, Short-eared Owl. One specimen taken.

Syrnium nebulosum, Barred Owl. Resident.

Scotiaptex cinereum, Great Gray Owl. Rare winter visitant.

Nyctala acadica, Saw-whet Owl. Seen often in autumn. Breeds
above 2000 feet elevation. Resident.

Megascops asio, Screech Owl. Resident.

Bubo virginianus, Great Horned Owl. Resident.

10 BULLETIN No, 1

Nyctea nyctea, Snowy Owl. Winter visitant. A number taken this
winter (1905-’06).

Coccyzus americanus, Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Summer resident. Much
rarer than the next species.

Coccysus erythropthalmus, Black-billed Cuckoo. Summer resident.

Ceryle alcyon, Belted Kingfisher. Summer resident.

Dryobates villosus, Hairy Woodpecker. Resident.

Picoides articus. Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker. Winter visitant.
One nesting record, Pico Peak, Sherburne.

Picoides americanus, American Three-toed Woodpecker. Winter
vistant. Have seen it in summer on Pico Peak.

Sphyrapicus varius, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Summer resident.

Ceophloeus pileatus, Pileated Woodpecker. Resident. Several breed-
ing records.

Melanerpes erythrocephalus, Red-headed Woodpecker. Summer resi-
dent. Found in small maple groves chiefly.

Colaptes avratus, Golden-winged Woodpecker. Summer resident.

Antrostomus vociferus, Whippoorwill. Summer resident.

Chordeiles virginianus, Nighthawk. Summer resident.

Chaetura pelagica, Chimney Swift. Summer resident.

Trochilus colubris, Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Summer resident.

Tyrannus tyrannus, Kingbird. Summer resident.

Myiarchus crinitus, Crested Flycatcher. Summer resident.

Sayornis phoebe, Phoebe. Summer resident.

Contopus borealis, Olive-sided Flycatcher. Summer resident. Chiefly
around the mountain ponds.

Contopus virens, Wood Pewee. Summer resident.

Empidonax trailli, Traill’s Flycatcher. Summer resident.

Empidonax minimus, Least Flycatcher. Summer resident.

Otocoris alpestris, Horned Lark. Winter visitant.

Octocoris alpestris praticola, Prairie Horned Lark. Summer resi-
dent. Two nests found in 1905.

Cyanocitta cristata, Blue Jay. Resident.

Corvus americanus, Crow. Resident.

Dolichonyx oryzivorus, Bobolink. Summer resident.

Molothrus ater, Cowbird. Summer resident.

Agelaius phoeniceus, Red-winged Blackbird. Summer resident.

Sturnella Magna, Meadow Lark. Summer resident.

Icturus galbula, Baltimore Oriole. Summer resident.

Scolecophagus carolinus, Rusty Blackbird. Migrant.

Ouiscalus quiscula aeneus, Bronzed Grackle. Summer resident.

Pinicola enucleator, Pine Grosbeak. Winter visitant.

VERMONT BirRD CLUB LL

Carpodacus purpureus, Purple Finch. Summer resident.

Loxia curvirostra minor, American Crossbill. Winter visitant.

Loxia leucoptera, White-winged Crossbill. Winter visitant. Much
rarer than preceding, ;

Acanthis linaria, Redpoll. Winter visitant.

Spinus tristis, American Goldfinch. Resident.

Spinus pinus, Pine Siskin. Winter visitant.

Plectrophenax nivalis, Snow Bunting. Winter visitant.

Calcarius lapponicus, Lapland Longspur. Winter visitant. With
flocks of snow buntings.

Poocaetes gramineus, Vesper Sparrow. Summer resident.

Ammodramus sandwichensis savanna, Savanna Sparrow. Summer
resident.

Zenotrichia leucophrys, White-crowned Sparrow. Migrant.

Zanotrichia albicollis, White-throated Sparrow. Common above 1,500
feet elevation. Summer resident.

Spizella monticola, Tree Sparrow. Winter visitant.

Spizella socialis, Chipping Sparrow. Summer resident.

Spizella pusilla, Field Sparrow. Summer resident.

Junco hyemalis, Junco, Snowbird. Summer resident, above 1,000 feet
elevation.

Melospiza fasciata, Song Sparrow. Summer resident.

Melospiza lincolu, Lincoln’s Sparrow. Migrant.

Melospiza georgiana, Swamp Sparrow. Summer resident.

Passerella iliaca, Fox Sparrow. Fall migrant.

Passer domestics, English Sparrow. Resident. Introduced species.

Pipilo erythrophthalmus, Towhee. Summer resident.

Habia ludoviciana, Rose-breasted grosbeak. Summer resident.

Passerina cyanea, Indigo Bunting. Summer resident.

Piranga erythromelas, Scarlet Tanager. Summer resident.

Progne subis, Purple Martin. Summer resident.

Petrochelidon lunifrons, Cliff Swallow. Summer resident.

Chelidon erythrogaster, Barn Swallow. Summer resident.

Tachycineta bicolor, Tree Swallow. Summer resident.

Clivicola riparia, Bank Swallow. Summer resident.

Stelgidopterya serripennis, Rough-winged Swallow. One specimen
taken during breeding season.

Ampelis cedrorum, Cedar Bird. Summer resident.

Lanius borealis, Northern Shrike. Winter visitant.

Lanius ludovicianus, Loggerhead Shrike. Summer resident.

Vireo olivaceus, Red-eyed Vireo. Summer resident.

Vireo gilvus, Warbling Vireo. Summer resident.

12 BULLETIN No, 1

Vireo flavifrons, Yellow-throated Vireo. Less common than pre-
ceding.

Vireo solitarius, Solitary Vireo. Summer resident.

Mniotilta varia, Black and White Warbler. Summer resident.

Helminthophila ruficapilla, Nashville Warbler. Summer resident.

Helminthophila peregrina, Tennessee Warbler. Two pair noted in
Mt. Holly, June 1897, at an elevation of over 2,000 feet.

Compsothlypis americana, Parula Warbler. Summer resident.

Dendroica tigrina, Cape May Warbler. Migrant. In 1888 observed
parents feeding young on Mt. Killington, Sherburne.

Dendroica aestiva, Summer Warbler. Summer resident. Confined
chiefly to the valleys.

Dendroica caerulescens, Black-throated Blue Warbler. Summer resi-
dent.

Dendroica coronata, Myrtle Warbler. Migrant, and summer resident
above 1,800 feet elevation.

Dendroica maculosa, Magnolia Warbler. Summer resident.

Dendroica pennsylvanica, Chestnut-sided Warbler. Summer resident.

Dendroica castanea, Bay-breasted Warbler. Migrant.

Dendroica striata, Black-poll Warbler. Migrant, and summer resi-
dent above 2,000 feet elevation.

Dendroica blackburniae, Blackburnian Warbler. Summer resident.

Dendroica virens, Black-throated Green Warbler. Summer resident.

Seiurus aurocapillus, Oven Bird. Summer resident.

Seiurus noveboracensis, Water Thrush. Summer resident. Rare.

Geothlypis philadelphia, Mourning Warbler. Summer resident.

Geothlypis trichas, Maryland Yellow-Throat. Summer resident.

Sylvania pusilla, Wilson’s Warbler. Migrant.

Sylvania canadensis, Canadian Warbler. Summer resident.

Setophaga ruticilla, American Redstart. Summer resident.

Galeoscoptes carolinensis, Catbird. Summer resident.

Harporhynchus rufus, Brown Thrasher. Summer resident. Rare.

Troglodytes aedon, House Wren. Summer resident.

Troglodytes hiemalis, Winter Wren. Commonest in mountain towns.

Certhia familiaris americana, Brown Creeper. Summer resident.
Rare. One nest taken.

Sitta carolinensis, White-breasted Nuthatch. Resident.

Sitta canadensis, Red-breasted Nuthatch. Resident.

Parus atricapillus, Chickadee. Resident.

Regulus satrapa, Golden-crowned Kinglet. Resident. Breeds com-
monly.

Regulus calendula, Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Spring migrant.

VERMONT BiRD CLUB 13

Turdus mustelinus, Wood Thrush. Summer resident.

Turdus fuscescens, Wilson’s Thrush. Summer resident.

Turdus aliciae bicknelli, Bicknell’s Thrush. Summer resident above
3,000 feet elevation.

Turdus ustulatus swainsonii, Olive-backed Thrush. Summer resi-
dent, chiefly above 1,800 feet elevation.

Turdus aonalaschkae pallasii, Hermit Thrush. Summer resident.

Merula migratoria, American Robin. Summer resident.

Sialia sialis, Bluebird. Summer resident.

NESTING OF THE DUCK HAWK.
(Falco peregrinus anatum)

By W. A. KEnt, Proctor.
(Read at 1905 meeting, an abstract.)

About the first of May, 1806, the writer with his brother visited
the nesting site of a pair of Duck Hawks, situated on a steep cliff
which has been occupied by these birds for many years. The cliff
was on a north slope of a mountain range which has an altitude
of 2,662 feet, the cliff itself being about 2,500 feet in altitude. With noisy
crackle the hawks were soon dashing near them, flying back and forth
and uttering their shrill cries. Indications pointed toward the nest being
on one of the shelves which could be reached only by being lowered
from above, the side being vertical and made uneven by projecting points
of rocks. It was necessary to abandon the attempt to reach the nest.

On May 9, 1897, the nesting site was again visited. The writer was
lowered by a rope 4o feet over the side of the cliff to the shelf from
which the hawk had been seen flying. On rounding a projection he be-
held four eggs. They were in a slight nest or hollow made of a few
bones and a little dirt, solid rock beneath. The eggs were spotted and
blotched so heavily as to be nearly a brick red all over. The shelf was
5 feet by 2% feet, the eggs being placed under a projecting rock so as
to be protected from above. Meanwhile both birds had been dashing back
and forth, continually giving their crackling cry, coming so near the
writer at times that it made it uncomfortable for him in his position. The
eggs were about one fourth advanced in incubation, all being in the same
stage.

The flight of the birds was very rapid. They were not seen to sail
while they were being molested, the wing strokes being always fast.

Wd BULLETIN No, 1

Their cry was peculiar, not shrill and piercing like many hawks, but a
noisy crackle. It has two syllables, the first being the lower, and slurring
up a few notes to the latter which is sharper and slightly shorter.

In May, 1808, a set of four fresh eggs were taken. The nest was
about 20 feet from the one used the year previous. It was simply a hol-
low in the dirt and was partly hidden by some shrubs that had gained a
foothold on the shelf of rocks.

On May 1t and 14, 1900, the place was visited in the same manner as
already described. Although the nest appeared fresh, no eggs were found
therein. The birds were not as bold as heretofore.

On May 2, 1901, a set of four fresh eggs were found in the nest used
in 1897. The hawks were as bold as when first met. On June 10 a
second set of three fresh eggs were taken in the nest occupied in 1808.
They were slightly lighter in color and were not blotched and spotted as
heavily as the previous sets. Several times when the cliff was visited only
one of the birds would be present at first, but very soon the other would
be seen approaching from far away, and always from the same direction,
possibly from some favorite feeding ground where a good view could be
obtained of the cliff, as the hawk always immediately returned when
danger was near.

ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS READ AT THE WINTER MEETING.

It is regretted that all the papers cannot be printed in full. The fol-
lowing are carefully prepared abstracts of most of those read.

NESTING OF THE PILEATED WOODPECKER.
(Ceophloeus Pileatus.)
By D. E. Kent, Rutland.

On May 22, 1905, a nest of the pileated woodpecker was found in
East Wallingford, in the vicinity of “Spectacle Pond,’ in woods com-
posed chiefly of beech, birch and maple trees. Upon entering the woods
a pileated alighted on a tree a short distance away, searching for food
and seeming not at all concerned about the presence of man. As these
birds are usually very shy and difficult to approach nearer than 50 yards,
it was thought that the nest must be close at hand. The nest was finally
located in a partially decayed beech. After repeated rappings upon the
trunk, the pileated thrust out her head, keen eyed and alert, and looking
about a moment flew to a tree 20 yards distant, uttering all the while
a sharp, cackling cry.

VERMONT BRD CLUB 15

The entrance of the nest cavity was 3% inches by 4 inches, drilled in
straight about 9 inches, and forty feet from the ground. The depth of the
cavity was two feet, the inside dimensions being about seven by nine
inches. The nest contained three eggs, nest stained and heavily incubated.
The examination of her nest greatly disturbed the female bird, but the
male remained at a distance and seemed unconcerned.

ATTRACTING BIRDS IN WINTER.
A. C. Dike, Bristol.

Feeding birds in winter not only yields exceptional opportunities for
bird study but is a practical means of bird protection which is within the
reach of all. Many of our winter birds depend for food upon the seeds
of various weeds and other plants. When these are covered with deep
snow the birds frequently experience want and sometimes starvation. At
such times birds by nature shy and retiring seek the homes of man for
food. Then is our opportunity to feed, shelter, protect and study them.
The feeding is begun in October, suet, bones with meat attached,
raw pork rinds, crushed buckwheat, weed seed, and sunflower seed being
placed in convenient places for the birds.

On account of the extreme cold, the winter of 1903 furnished the
most interesting experience with birds. The more northern species com-
monly with us as stragglers, at this time appeared in great numbers. The
first visitors to the lunch counters were a family of four chickadees which
became so tame that they would take food from the hand. White-breasted
nuthatches, downy woodpeckers, hairy woodpeckers came frequently and
blue jays, occasionally. Tree sparrows, goldfinches, redpolls and juncos
appearing later partook of the seeds scattered upon the ground.

The woodpeckers and nuthatches seemed to prefer the suet, the chick-
adees the pork rinds which were cut into strips two or three inches wide
and ten inches long, fastened to the branches by tacks. The chickadees
were also very fond of sunflower seeds. Many of our resident species,
if fed during the winter, will nest in the immediate vicinity during the
summer and will prove very beneficial from an economic standpoint.

TWO FINDS OF 1905.
By G. H. Ross, Rutland.

The prairie horned lark, octoris alpestris practicola, one of the
eleven subspecies of horned lark, octoris alpestris, has been a resident
of New England only within a comparatively recent period, being origin-

16 BuLLeTIN No, 1

ally found much farther west. It is a resident of Vermont, but in winter
is likely to be confounded with the horned lark, which then visits us from
the north, from which it may be distinguished by its slightly smaller size
and by the line over the eye being slightly yellow.

The bird inhabits open meadows and pastures, seldom perching on
trees, though often alighting on fences and wires. The lark raises two or
three broods, nesting often in March before the snow is entirely gone.
A member of the Club from Poultney, found a nest in March, but the
writer’s efforts to do so were unsuccessful.

The finding of two nests of this species are described, the first on
April 7, a difficult task on account of the wariness of the female which
slipping off the nest and running fifteen or twenty yards, would then
take wing at a distance of 75 yards from the intruder. It was only by
hiding and watching the bird that the nest was finally located. The nest
was placed in a small natural cavity at the foot of a tuft of grass, flush
with the surface of the ground, made of dry grasses compactly woven
together, outside dimensions 334 by 3% inches, cavity 3 by 2% inches, and
two inches deep. The eggs were four in number, a light grayish brown,
finely and closely spotted with darker, partly incubated.

The second nest, containing three eggs, was found a few days later.
The same difficulty in locating it was experienced, although the birds were
not so shy. The male was flushed between the searchers and the nest, |
the female when they were about six feet from the nest. During the ex-
amination of the nests in both cases, the males hovered near singing,
while the females fed quietly at a distance. The writer visited these
nests frequently but both were destroyed before the young were ready to
leave the nest, probably by some animal.

The second find was a nest of the goshawk, accipiter atricapillus,
in Mendon, April 23,. A pair of this species had been noticed in this
vicinity during the preceding winter but they were thought to be simply
winter visitants. On the above date the writer made a search which re-
sulted in finding the nest placed in a birch tree 25 feet from the ground,
loosely constructed of sticks. It was about 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet
from top to bottom. The eggs, four in number, were apparently unspotted.

The female made a great outcry, swooping at times within a few feet of
the climber’s head, while the male remained quiet at a distance. The cry

was a sharp two-syllabled utterance, something like the note of the red-
shouldered hawk.

VERMONT Birp CLUB 17

SOME ADIRONDACK BIRD NOTES.
Miss E. E. Drew, Burlington.

This paper deals in an interesting way with observations made of
birds in the spring of 1905:

A pair of crossbills, loxia curvirostra minor, were observed from
April 30 to June 8. They became so tame that the writer was able to sit
for an hour at a time within six feet of them. She attracted them by
means of bits of salt pork tied to the limbs of trees.

May 4 a ruby-crowned kinglet was observed in song, “a prolonged
and varied warble, mellow and flute like with such sweetness and purity of
tone!”

On May 9 and later dates the writer noticed “a queer looking crow.”
A description of the bird was sent to the Department of Agriculture at
Washington and a reply was received that the bird described was un-
‘doubtedly a raven, corvus corax principalis.

A PRELIMINARY LIST OF BIRDS OF SOUTHERN VERMON’11.

By Mrs. Erizasera B. Davenport, Brattleboro.

The territory of this list includes the townships of Readsboro,
Whitingham, Stamford and Pownal. Observations were made during
the first and last weeks of May and the first ten days of June 1905. The
list includes 86 species. Mrs. Davenport plans to make further investiga-
tions of the region during the coming summer, reporting results at the
winter meeting. That the list may be more complete, publication is de-
ferred until the next issue of the bulletin.

CALIFORNIAN BIRD NOTES.

Netty Harr Woopworrs, St. Albans.

This exceedingly interesting paper expressed in charming language
‘contains nearly 10,000 words. A creditable abstract within the space
allowed is, therefore, clearly impossible. The writer gives graphic and
realistic descriptions of bird life which she observed in cities and suburbs,
on mesas, foothills, canons, and mountains. In company with Mrs. Olive
‘Thorne Miller the writer spent one winter on a ranch. A larger portion
of the paper deals with her observations and experiences with birds dur-
ing that time.

18 BULLETIN No, 1

The closing words are quoted: “During my two years in California I
found about 260 species of birds. In winter months when vast armies of
Northern birds are there, Californian birds will doubtless outnumber ours
of the same months, numerically, a hundred to one. When the last
migrant has departed, and the home birds settle down to their spring’s
work, it is doubtful if there are many more than in New England.
When you talk of song, however, the chief charm of the bird, it will,
with few exceptions, bear no comparison, either in quantity or quality,
with our northern singers.”

Mrs. Woodworth has kindly promised to read the paper again at the
joint session of the two Clubs at the next winter meeting.

THE NEST OF AN ACADIAN FLYCATCHER.
(Empidonax virescens)
By Dr. L. H. Ross, Bennington.

It was on the 14th of July 1904, that the writer accompanied by his
wife went in search of wood thrushes. This necessitated visiting the
mountains east of Bennington as the birds rarely in that vicinity come into
the valleys—in fact so infrequently that they are known locally as the
“mountain thrush.”

As they were ascending a wood-road leading up one of the foothills
about four miles southeast of Bennington, they came to a small clearing
surrounded by second growth timber, with now and then a tree of older
growth. Hearing the thrushes about, they took positions in a spot sur-
rounded by small bushes which concealed them. Hardly had they seated
themselves, when from a small tree near by came two notes which re-
sembled the first notes of a white-throated sparrow. Glancing in the
direction from which the notes came, the listeners perceived that they
proceeded from a flycatcher. The bird was joined by his mate. First one
and then the other would dart out and seize a passing insect, return to its
perch on a dead branch, and then repeat the two notes energetically. As
far as their observations went, the notes were always given while perch-
ing. They studied the birds carefully and after following them a short
distance found their nest which was in a beech tree about 30 feet from
the clearing. It was hung from a fork of a horizontal branch, 8 feet
from the ground; was loosely constructed of white birch bark and lined
with pine needles and hair. The nest contained three young fully
feathered and nearly ready to fly. When the spot was visited about a week
later, the nest was empty and neither adult birds nor the young were
to be found.

VERMONT BiRD CLUB 19

CONSTITUTION OF THE VERMONT BIRD CLUB.

Section I. This organization shall be called the Vermont Bird Club.

Sec. II. The objects of the Club shall be: To afford a convenient
means for communication between those persons in the state who are in-
terested in the study of birds; to collect and preserve information con-
cerning those species found in the state; to create and encourage an in-
terest in birds; to promote scientific investigation and to secure pro-
tection for all useful species.

Sec. III. The Officers of the Club shall be a President, Vice-Presi-
dent, Secretary-Treasurer, and an Executive Committee, consisting of
three members. These Officers shall be elected annually.

Sec. IV. Any person willing to aid in the objects named in Sec.
II, is eligible to membership, and may be elected at any regularly called
meeting by vote of a majority of the members present.

Sec. V. Each member shall pay an annual fee of fifty cents.

Sec. VI. Meetings may be called by the Officers at such time and
place as may seem to them best.

MEMBERS OF THE VERMONT BIRD CLUB.

Ni ser aye, 1. TENE Ls es co orc ge eae Saxtons River, Vt.
Alger, TMISS RE RR Sed eR Saxtons River, Vt.
ReMi Laie covin)< shei'ettin © <a hie es Sinem heh s+ =A.» Shoham Putney, Vt.
Epler VET Sem tel tm mpey siesta sarees al Aor aiateneie Sete teens S5 East Hardwick, Vt.
Peer pet Ets ye ne aei sre coe od eMac a 6 ceo eee eds Gee DOUliney,: wits
Espa ntameeV lets Gemelbal el real Vegan ect tccrira neta: rctenersee ota otis chars dey eels Poultney, Vt.
Bole, Miss IEEE es SS IO A al ge eC aca RS West Barnet, Vt.
Beuine nv Allaniigernn seer. jae eae PS eae ieee, Yonkers, N. Y-
CDS TAGGIRE) ORD Say ea ely Renee <r eee Middlebury, Vt.
FE tate (obese Ene nous rng yee rs ee OS «hale aval se nets abare, ws hevaisi ave to aE Wells River, Vt.
BiemHell Rey. Stepien Pe soa. vase ce os dace t + «sess Jan VESE arene y te
“Pisce ata, (SPITS Dh a 0 Ra a eee te Se Burlington, Vt.
IBMIESROWHES, THIEN Chi eae dicotinn omit cab 0 Ob ia ee eeenee Soin 6 Sab Burlington, Vt.
ere ne nein een El re lao. Pusat Rees - ae «a acime cater ep = 0]- Brandon, Vt.
PlewiguWiies Arita “Wace. cues cece vse cs cama 4ag W. 118th StN: YY. City
SSE HS Br hoe ae ee ae ee St. Johnsbury, Vt.
CPI CASO. NESTS ES a eo St. Johnsbury, Vt.
eesere ee DRESS PM ele Wai seits,.. ic. city Cratacls 5+ & Selene me's iy +» + Bee Post Mills, Vt.
reat Mange UN Ser EVV VIM er hc.2 20'S wakes eve Siero iaisiaieiil's 8's oes Woodstock, Vt.

Mae CCIE a Gcnehsepaiticn Py. 1. tame Nm o's oc codecs Sipe oie Proctor, Vt.

20 BULLETIN No, 1

Dana; Miss. Mafigalts 06 Gc. fas ais -enae eee 3 see Rutland, Vt.
Dawenport, Mrs, #Big (Bs sn iste ook sedan o3 es Sg ee Brattleboro, Vt.
Davis, RCV. N. Beebe svics <brestes secre ania: Se se Sheffield, Ala.
Manis s WAR: as. eittecae vores acres. cgiatcae Chamber Commerce, Boston, Mass.
Die: ALO. © els. . ae deo sadist as, « aus tle me ake apts She oc ee Bristol, Vt.
Drew. Mass. Hama. By | oi. cs sa) <a. ss scant erie no. 2 ae Burlington, Vt.
Wunton, Miss: Edith Keys oie <i tes cahi as ore ee Rutland, Vt.
Fisher, Miss Ruth B.o 2a... sc eee as 0 Se Johnson, Vt.
Biynn:- Miss, Nellie By. : s,.jc <2.s.00.anssyemuleins o> anes Serene Burlington, Vt.
Brenly wince ik. VAL 5s. s\ateienis \e/ssona a eeeogs trace ee bees. See New York City
Gale Chas: Ay. GMD.) sec nad ieee bats) came Se ale eee renee Rutland, Vt.
Gaye Mirss Frederick: «a+ sari scketchosroenbineioeasetas: 7 oka Burlington, Vt.
Gilberts go ., a cate 0c beeredsde hoy octe Sacualol Sere ei eae Northampton, Mass.
Gillespee; Miss Eisthersbs i.c.onvccuae leerco oem aie cinas aoe ae Proctor, Vt.
Grittn Miss: Delia Ta sectens teaches ti tolek heroes St. Johnsbury, Vt.
all Miss. A, ote ane: Gn cueine SEER Rune. «aa SSeneaan ohne Rutland, Vt.
ame idson B.. Waes Seu tscoseu ieee PO Sh cake came Boulder, Colo.
bickokosMiss ‘Mateos nace fcc oleitt avai s eros osha Burlington, Vt.
LEI e vege ©) se CW Prey 5 oa SE at NAR pO in a oA St. Johnsbury, Vt.
EIORMONs WC. len serene anak te otk Lida Sato ee Coe Brattleboro, Vt.
Plorton,eiias. We Co.) fb os oe tee ae a a i clock eee ee Brattleboro, Vt.
Eloweatenmitariy S., conic. sie chek ws es Cerne ee ee ee Burlington, Vt.
omemmearlton WD)“; ett a senss Cons oe ee ee eee Essex Junction, Vt.
TtGwepmeliiton “IT kent ic Seek ee oe kee ae ie ee ae are Biltmore, N. C.
Eleva wy tllat cd NBe sae S26 eee toe ae oe eee ae Burlington, Vt.
HowesmMrs. Go Be... 2... seeded acnigs Setureae cents Williamstown, Mass.
Tee eiViteeaiy FE Se Pee oP ee ea kes oe Tokio, Japan
JONES EF Nikeemmmloay ies OS es ORES eke Ae ee eee eae Burlington, Vt.
Kents Minion ts. Son eee cca eee oe eters a eye eee te Rutland, Vt.
Kent; “Wyatt iemmtaets or de a eeee seh pr SR ee eee ae Proctor, Vt.
Kinney; Hees os piace een Oe ate ec a eee ae ee Newbury, Vt.
Kinney, Mrs." Be Gait eine ae aa ee ee Newbury, Vt.
oomis, Miss“ MyrtletB aie cn tc. meee ee on ee Proctor, Vt.
Bord, ‘Mrs. 'L.'B. SAGs ire on Cen Burlington, Vt.
WeFarland, Wits. EL. Mi Seeeeetre te, eee ee Hyde Park, Vt.
Martin,’ Miss 157 A:> Sis... OO eneys nat oe eee Burlington, Vt.
Wiarvith, Mrs. J. PS. valcke! lve com oe Senn ete eine ana
Mison, Mrs. 'O. RY aS. Soo Ae Burlington, Vt.
Mimmson, Mrs. Mary Co 20. cc SERA 55. eee Manchester, Vt.
Noyes; Mrs. L.” Hy Jr... 0.2. ee lee Hyde Park, Vt.
Noyes; -Hatry Ast shuts eee Hyde Park, Vt.

Noyes, Mrs. H. A. eM Semi ccha eS ie. is,

VERMONT BrrRD CLUB 21
Genimbeertivuiss Carnie Witha +. dale. cla tit. 3. t Brandon, Vt.
iP aiel lainey to Cpael Ene) Sn) Re a Bane a ae ot Burlington, Vt.
Perlkting: TEL. 18S A660 ha roc BSR a Re ee Beri ee Burlington, Vt.
Reet scram via WV Core Praha cictirs va farnele: Shre Ried hose. scons ve AIRE Newbury, Vt.
PEE TE SS SRO) Ra eS St. Johnsbury, Vt.
POGOe CIGCL Gly Itetmcuueierereicrerc mie eats alent Gcocsi ates ake aie ae Proctor, Vt.
PURGieEnaScaut airs. EC tAses. 2 lis See eee or Burlington, Vt.
INGUME ym LISGIEe IVINS RIS Ree ee NSS eee St. Johnsbury, Vt.
INOssweleucretiusmie GVLeD ieansdacec seen ece nace ts ob eMnine tonmey tC
OScHeN cub ieretiusmeeian sccsc st entes soe Oden es Crewe) enninetonm. Vt
INGSSHen CrCOME LO WARE ae has its Leas ce thas Sheila e aon ee pia re ae Rutland, Vt.
Seam vissmbsnniee “eee NO sry see wet eo eres eto aa ch on eae. Barre, Vt.
ae MEH PCN MEM Seales cca l o oe Sac ccc neces okie santas Gets Stowe, Vt.
MaRS ATTIC MES onthe sale Ped wesie netece ds cos sco hoes Stowe, Vt.
A Deawitea.) JEUIIADIN CTS] Bs es Sa eye lie AC do er Burlington, Vt.
Meum SSe bers eee PE os ob ca ead nodes oe bs Northampton, Mass.
1. LSE "Uji Bo Paced ahlk Gels SE Ro ee ihe Danville, Vt.
TL ER UES ULI MB 10/2) Oe A DR nee: Burlington, Vt.
SEE DS TiS 12 Was ge ie Poultney, Vt.
Wino TES) tg MRD LAS Ts Dig 3 ale a aero Burlington, Vt.
Ram PIGSU BN OnEMCe sc, ovs ce Cec tme veda tae tewtakes oBeame Burlington, Vt.
epee EPR ON ts cate sna tes oa cerns cise eis 8 dial oe Ses cule & Burlington, Vt.
ee ReMm roe MPN Ghee as Since ey ce a cee s Saleh nee Caren Burlington, Vt.
PP amGPM IT RSMOEDC ONY ING caine crn Sek ayeee ares sites a's. ayaie. cyateon Sime Burlington, Vt.
NMC STODINCII eet ects vi seve cite oer ann ol trots meters ai St. Johnsbury, Vt.
15 Se di NES 116 15 ral 8 lege aa a a na Burlington, Vt.
WNL eel Vt See gis elects, eAcace sexe corctersucte sere eaeuewa rm teere-e aos tte Burlington, Vt.
Wwihittcombemiviiss’ (Wathanine? Sc sconces eck scan. < Burlington, Vt.
Vali mee somes (ex aeeeucre nes cratraue. aan spears eho. otelc, « aartsvoeuslers Williamstown, Vt.
\wWrimelkongig: KCl MIMS ats tains vo ciple Aeon eNen ames ieneicec oieaeaeares Brandon, Vt.
VATS OW PREV LtSam Gums aeayace eee setaierral ao ore acocaut asisiayal oreie~s « auarone Brandon, Vt.
ivigane@orth. «ies. Nellie Hi.ciccei ews ocees cvs caawe ast bn St. Albans, Vt.

OFFICERS.

President—Prof. G. H. Perkins, Burlington.
Vice-president—Carlton D. Howe, Essex Junction.
Secretary and Treasurer—G. H. Ross, Rutland.

Executive Committee—Carlton D. Howe, Prof. J. W. Votey, Burling-

ton; Mrs. E. B. Davenport, Brattleboro.

Members of the Joint Publication Committee—Ezra Brainerd, Middle-
bury; L. R. Jones, Burlington; Mrs. EF. B. Davenport, Brattleboro; Mrs.

22 BULLETIN No, 1

Nellie F. Flynn, Burlington; Miss Delia I. Griffin, St. Johnsbury; G. H.
Ross, Rutland; Carlton D. Howe, Essex Junction.

ANNOUNCEMENT AS TO FIELD MEETING.

It was voted at the winter meeting that the next field meeting be
held on Mt. Mansfield about July first. In accordance with this decison
the officers have formulated preliminary plans as follows:

The party will assemble at Stowe on the evening of Tuesday, July 3.
Teams will be engaged for an early start on the morning of Wednesday,
July 4, to carry the party to near the foot of the mountain. Most will
probably wish to make the climb on foot, providing the weather is favor-
able. ‘Those who prefer can ride bicycles to this point, and any who
feel that the climb would overtax their strength can continue with team
to the summit. In any case there will be opportunity to send baggage by
team. Allowing time for a leisurely climb the Summit House shoyld
be reached by the dinner hour. Late comers can make the ascent by the
regular stage leaving Stowe about ten o'clock A. M.

The afternoon of July 4 can then be given to exploring the summit.
The plans for Thursday, July 5, have not been formulated. Smugglers’
Notch can be visited on the second day by starting from the Summit
House Thursday morning either on foot or by team. A picnic dinner can
be eaten in the Notch and those who desire to reach evening trains can
do so either by returning to Stowe or by going through the Notch to
Jeffersonville. Members desiring to prolong the outing could stay an-
other day, passing the night at Harlow’s Inn, near the base of the moun-
tain on the Stowe side, and on the next morning tramping through
Nebraska Notch, which leads around the south end of the mountain and
reaching Underhill in time for the evening train.

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BULLETIN NO. 2

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VERMONT
BIRD CLUB

JULY, 1907

PUBLISHED ANNUALLY BY THE CLUB

<i OF

Vermont Bird Club

BULLETIN NO. 2

JULY, 1907

Published Annually by the Club

BURLINGTON:
Tue Suetpon Press,
1907

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VERMONT BIRD CLUB.

Bulletin No. 2. July, 1907.

PUBLISHED ANNUALLY BY THE CLUB.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Birds of Windham and Bennington Counties, Mrs. Elizabeth B. Dav-

C2) 0) 00) 9 Pee ee eee ee oe 5
Problems of the Vermont Bird Club, Carlton D. Howe................--...------ 14
Nesting of the Winter Wren, G. H. Ross.-.-----------------------2 00st eee: 18
Our Thrushes and Their Songs, Miss Isabel M. Paddock...--.--..--.--------------- 2)
Notes from a Bird Table, Miss Marion Dole....-.--.--...-..-.--------2------------------ Q4.
A Warbler Guest, Emily L. and Susan E. Clark.............-.--.------------0 26
Some Bird Acquaintances, Emma E. Drew...-.--.----.------------------- Q7
Report of the New England Federation, Miss Delia I. Griffin................- 28
@he FitthyAnnual Wield. Meeting:<..-..:--.-.-.2--222.--2.-<6.0--¢-2 03sec tee 29
The Sixth Annual Winter Meeting.....--.-.-----------:---:-:--------0-1--- eee 29
The Next Field Meeting-....--...--.---------------------:c:cor ee Hest jh Sao 31
EATING LCS eee rae en ra a) eS eh data eh.» eee eee 31

One copy of this Bulletin is sent to each member of the Club. Ad-
ditional copies may be secured at ten cents each. Orders for these and
other communications relative to the Bulletin should be addressed to
G. H. Ross, Secretary Vermont Bird Club, Rutland, Vt.

OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES FOR 1907.

President; Prot.(G. A Perit 5. icnisnve aa ener Burlington
Vice-President: (Carlton. Howes... se Essex Junction
Secretary and» TreasurereG, EliROssi. wn Rutland

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE—Carlton. D. Howe,
Mrs. E. B. Davenport, Brattleboro; » Prof. J.~ W> Vote,
Burlington; Miss I. M. Paddock, St. Johnsbury.

PUBLICATION COMMITTEE—Mrs. E. B. Daven-
port, Miss D. I. Griffin, St. Johnsbury, G. H. Ross, Carlton
D. Howe.

BIRDS OF WINDHAM AND BENNINGTON
COUNTIES. |
MRS. ELIZABETH B. DAVENPORT.

For the larger part of my life I have been somewhat
familiar with the flora and fauna of southern Vermont, In
the earlier years I drove wherever roads were passable, and
followed the fishermen along most of the trout streams into
the heart of the hills. Since the organization of the Bird
Club my purpose has been to go over the region very tho-
roughly to verify previous observations, and add such new
data as opportunity offered.

Windham and Bennington counties reach entirely across
the State and include a little more than one fourth of its
latitudinal extent, a territory embracing approximately
forty miles square. Lat. about 42:30.—43:20. Long.
72 :30—73:15. (Windham Co. 700 square miles. Benning-
' ton 780 square miles, 4-5 farms and 3-4 of this under culti-
vation.) West River, with its various affluents drains the
northeast part of Windham County, emptying into the Con-
necticutin Brattleboro. Green river waters some of the south
central townships. The Deerfield cuts a tortuous way from
the wilds of Stratton southward. West of the Deerfield
watershed the drainage is mainly to the Hoosac, Walloom-
sic and Battenkill. (A few streams, however, finally reach
the waters of Lake Champlain.)

The altitude of the territory varies greatly, being lowest
on the eastern side of such townships as border on the Con-
necticut River, about 200 feet at the river in Brattleboro,
and not rising much northward in Windham county. Along
the Connecticut, however, the river valley is narrow, and
the ascent of the land westward is rapid, reaching 3600
attitude in Somerset and over 3800 feet in Manchester,
most of the hills ranging from 2200 feet to 3000 feet. The
lowest altitude in Bennington county is I think 700 feet at
Pownal in the southwest corner of the State.

The southern parts of Stanford and Pownal differ great-
ly from the eastern townships. Passing from Readsboro
through the last “Wind-gap” of the Green Mountains we
leave the valley of the Deerfield and enter that of the
Hoosac. As we descend to the broadening alluvial plain,
the north branch of the Hoosac lies between the Hoosac
range on the east, and the diminishing hills of the Green

6 BULLETIN 2

Mountains on the west, and sweeps down toward North
Adams, where Greylock’s peaks and deep ravines bound the
horizon.

From the ridges of Pownal one overlooks the enchanting
valley of the Hoosac, the Taconic Mountains lifting sharp-
ly to the west, and the amphitheatre about Williamstown
circling round toward Greylock’s flanks.

The country from border to border offers every condition
which birds and all other lovers of out doors could desire.
Alluvial meadows threaded by slow moving streams, past-
ures with swampy hollows and boggy reaches extending
far into the flanking hills, the hillsides dotted or crowded
with communities of cedars, young pines and spruces, apple
bushes browsed into curious shapes, and berry bearing
shrubs of various kinds Upland pastures with reaches of
short sweet grass, interminable acres of Dicksonia crowd-
ing the boulder-strewn slopes to the edge of the encroach-
ing forest, or may be to the bare wind-swept summits, an
undulating sea of green like no other summer tint, and
golden brown when the year is ripening,

Range upon range of densely wooded dome-shaped hills,
flowing into beautiful lines on the horizon. Sombre, bare,
shattered summits and precipitous cliffs rising above the
enclosing greens beneath.

Wild mountain torrents cascading through the deep
forests, Streams of the open woodland. The soft, illusive
gloom of the tamarack swamps, sphagnum swamps, and
great areas where swamps penetrate the hard-wood forest
or make still, secluded pools in the bushy clearings. Lone-
ly ponds in rocky basins among the mountain peaks, and
open sunlit ponds sensitive to every breeze.

I should like to consider the counties by townships, mak-
ing an ecological study of each, but such treatment would
unduly lengthen my paper.

The forests are such as are common to all our mountain
towns, mainly red spruce (Picea nigra rubra), balsam fir
(abies balsamea), hemlock, (Tsuga canadensis), paper
birch (Betula papyrifera yellow birch (Betula lutea),
beech (Fagus americana), and sugar maple (Acer barba-
tum). Young plantations of white pine (Pinus strobus),
are more vigorous in the western county. Red pine (Pinus
resinosa) is found occasionally in region about Brattleboro,
also in the river valley in Pownal. I found a few gray pines
(Pinus divaricata), in Bennington county, (about the
Dome) also black spruce (Picea mariana) in the peat bogs.

VERMONT BIRD CLUB 7

Arbor vitae (Thuya occidentalis) is much more plentiful
in Bennington county than eastward. Juniper (Juniperus
virginiana) occurs on the dry rocky hills in Connecticut
Valley towns, but is rarely met with in Bennington county.
Chestnut (Castenea dentata) the length of Windham coun-
ty in the Connecticut Valley, and I think not above Man-
chester in Bennington county. White Oak (Quercus alba)
extends further north along the Connecticut than on the
western side of the State; red oak (Quercus rubra) is
more common, Chestnut Oak (Quercus prinus) in the
mountains of Bennington county, but I have failed to find
it in Windham county.

In some sections the hemlock and spruce forests are fast
disappearing, and inroads are being made on the hard
woods. Along the Deerfield Valley the hills are shorn of
spruce well up into Somerset, and with the extension of the
railroad from Wilmington to Stratton the Deerfield Valley
Lumber Co, will penetrate to the very heart of the last
great stand of spruce timber on Stratton Mountain, and
that magnificent forest may fall.

Colymbus holboellii. HOLBOELL’S GREBE.—Stray.
Gavia imber. LOON.—Occasional S. R.
Gavia lumme. RED-THROATED LOON.—W. V. Rare.
Uria lomvia. BRUNNICHS MURRE.—Occasional Stray.
Larus argentatus. HERRING GULL.—Stray.
Merganser americanus. AMERICAN MERGANSER.—M. in
Eastern part of State. Dr. Ross reports it S. R., not common in
Bennington.
7. Anas boschas. MALLARD.—M., not common.
& Anas obscura. BLACK DUCK.—Uncommon §. R.
9. Aix sponsa. WOOD DUCK.—Rare S. R.
10. Anthya villisneriaa CANVAS BACK DUCK.—Rare M.
11. Charitonetta albeola. BUFFLEHEAD...Rare M.
12. Clangula clangula americana. AMER. GOLDEN EYE.—W. V.
13. Branta canadensis. CANADA GOOSE.—M.
14. Botaurus lentiginosus.s AMERICAN BITTERN.—S. R.
15. Ardea herodias. GREAS8S HERON.—S. R. Not common.
16. Butorides virescens. GREEN HERON.—S. R.
17. Rallus virginianus. VIRGINIA RAIL.—M. May breed.
18. Porzana carolina. SORA RAIL.—S. R. Not common.
19. Porzana noveboracensis. YELLOW RAIL.—M. (May breed).
20. Fulica americana. COOT.—S. R.
21. Philohela minor. AMERICAN WOODCOCK.—S. R. common.
22. Gallinago delicata. WILSON’S SNIPE.—M.
23. Tringa fuscicolus. WHITE-RUMPED SAND PIPER.—Rare M.
24. Totanus melanoleucus. GREATER YELLOW-LEGS.—M.
25. Helodromus solitarius. SOLITARY SANDPIPER.—M.
26. Bartramia longicauda. BARTRAMIAN SANDPIPER.—S. R.
Not common.
27. Actitis maculana. SPOTTED SANDPIPER.—Common S. RB.
28. Oxyechus vociferus. KILLDEER.—M.

CORO SE OS IND

8 BULLETIN 2

29. Colinus virginianus. BOB-WHITE.—R. Mr, Richard Bradley
released fifty birds in Brattleboro some thirty years ago. They
breed freely, but winter sleet storms are probably accountable for
their small increase. These birds are much more abundant in Ben-
nington county. Have found them in the hill towns of Marlbor.
and Wilmington.

30. Bonasa umbellus. RUFFED GROUSE.—Common R.

31. Bonasa umbellus togata. CANADIAN RUFFED GROUSE.—
R. Not uncommon in the hill towns.

32. Lenaidura macroura. MOURNING DOVE.—Have but one
record of this bird. Brattleboro May 1900.

33. Circus hudsonius. MARSH HAWK.—Common S. R.

34. Accipiter velox. SHARP-SHINNED HAWK.—S. R.. This
hawk has appeared near my house in February following the small
birds that were feeding about the windows.

35. Accipiter cooperii. COOPER’S HAWK.—S. R. I find this
hawk more frequently on the wooded hillsides above the pastures, at-
tacking Robins, Chewinks ang Brown Thrashers.

36. Accipiter atricapillus.s AMERICAN GOSHAWK.—wW, V.

37. Buteo borealis. RED-TAILED HAWK.—R. The most com-
mon hawk of the hiil towns.

38. Buteo lineatus. RED-SHOULDERED HAWK.—S. R. Not so
numerous as the preceeding, but always found along the _ river-
valleys.

39, Buteo platypterus. BROAD-WINGED HAWK.—Rare summer.
resident. Found most frequently in autumn along the wooded
streams.

40. Falco perigrinus anatum. DUCK HAWK.—Occasionally met
with in the hill towns in May and early June. May breed. Records
for the county north of Bennington,

41. Falco columbarius. PIGHON HAWK.—M. In eastern portion
of State. Dr. Ross reports it S. R. (Rare) in Bennington.

42. Falco sparverius. SPARROW HAWK.—S. R

43. Pandion haliaetus carolinensis: AMERICAN OSPREY.—Rare

44. Asio Wilsonianus. LONG-EARED OWL.—R.

45. Asio accipitrinus. SHORT-EARED OWL.—M

46. Syrnium varium. BARRED OWlL.—R. in hill towns.

47. Scotiaptex nebulosa. GREAT GRAY OWL.—Rare W. V.

48. Cryptoglaux acadiae SAW-WHET OWL.—R. in hill towns.

49. Megascops asio. SCREECH OWL.—Common R.

50. Bubo virginianus.s GREAT HORNED OWL.—Common R.

51. Nyctea nycteaa SNOWY OWL.—Irregular W. V. Sometimes
quite abundant as in 1905-1906.

52. Coccyzus americana, YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO.—S. R.
Not common, but occasionally nesting in shrubbery near residences.

53. Coccyzus erythropthalmus. BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO.—S.
R. Common.

54. Ceryle alcyon. BELTED KINGFISHER.—S, R. Abundant.
Occasionally resident about open water.

55. Dryobates villosus. HAIRY WOODPECKER.—R., but not
abundant.

56. Dryobates pubescens medianus. DOWNY WOODPECKER.—

57. Picoides articus, ARCTIC THREE-TOED WOODPECKER.-
W. V. Found late in June in the hill towns. May breed.
W. V. Found late in June in the hill towns. May breed.

VERMONT BIRD CLUB 9

58. Picoides americanus. AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOOD-
PECKER.—W, V.

59. Sphyrapicus varius. YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER.—S.
R. Most numerous in hill towns.

60. Ceophloeus piliatus. PILIATED WOODPECKER.—R. These
birds winter in the woods on the lower hills, but disappear from
these haunts as spring advances, Find them nesting in the hill
towns.

61. Melanerpes erythrocephalus. RED-HEADED WOODPECK-
ER. Found in the western county as S. R., but not common. In
1893 a pair of these beautiful birds were on Baker’s Brook in New-
fane. In the intervening years several other observers have reported
them from the same locality. This covers all my records for the
whole eastern side of the State.

62. Colaptes auratus luteus;s NORTHERN FLICKER.—Abund-
ant S. R.

63. Anthrostomus vociferus. WHIP-POOR-WILL.—S. R. Not
so abundant, nor so generally distributed as in former years.

64. Chordeiles virginianus. NIGHT HAWK.—S. R. The residents
of the interior hill towns tell me this bird is not so common as it
was ten years ago. That it has entirely abandoned certain sections
formerly occupied my own observations prove.

65. Chaetura pelagicas CHIMNEY SWIFT.—Abundant S. R.

66. Trochilus colubris. RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD.—
Common S. R.

67. Tyranus tyranus. KINGBIRD.—Abundant §. R.

68. Myiarchus crinitus.s GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER.—
Not uncommon S. R.

69. Sayornis phoebe. PHOEBE.—Abundant S. R.

70. Nuttallornis borealis. OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER.—S. RP.
Common about all the swamps in the hill towns.

71. Contopus virens. WOOD PEWEE.—Common S. R.

72. Empidonax flaviventris. YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER.
—M, in eastern part of Windham County. Dr. Ross reports it rare
S. R. in Bennington.

73. Empidonax traillii alnorum. ALDER FLYCATCHER.—
Abundant S. R. along all the alder and willow fringed brooks in the
hill towns. Also in the thickets of swampy pastures.

74. Empidonax minimus, LEAST FLYCATCHER.— Abundant
S. R.

75. Otocoris alpestris praticola. PRAIRRE HORNED LARK.—S.
R. Not common, but extending its range each year.

76. Cyanocitta cristata. BLUE JAY.—Common R.

77. Perisoreus canadensis. CANADA JAY.—Rare W. V. As this
bird is S. R. on the higher mountains of northern Vermont it may
yet be found breeding in Stratton.

78. Corvus brachyrhynochos. CROW.—R.

79. Dolichonyx oryzivorus. BOBOLINK.—Common S§. R.

80. Molothrus ater. COWBIRD.—S. R.

81. Agelaius phoeniceuss RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD.—Com-
mon S. R.

82. Sturnella magna. MEADOWLARK.—S. R. Not so abun-
dant on the eastern as on the western side of the State.

83. Icterus spurius.s ORCHARD ORIOLE.—S, R. in Bennington,
but rare. Found once with young in Brattleboro, but careful search
in all vincinity after trees were bare failed to reveal the nest.

10 BULLETIN 2

84. Icterus galbula. BALTIMORE ORIOLE.—Common 8, R. While
the nests are not confined to the elms, I do not find the bird where
the elm disappears. At Londonderry it is fairly common, but is not
found as you approach Stratton Mountain from that point. It is nota
question of altitude for in Halifax Centre I found it nesting.

85. Euphagus carolinus. RUSTY BLACKBIRD.—M.

86. Quiscalus quiscula. PURPLE GRACKLE.—Have found the
bird buc once in Southern Vermont. It is reported common in or
near Bennington. I failed to identify it there, but did find the next.

87. Guiscalus quiscula aeneus. BRONZED GRACKLE.—Common.
SHE

88. Pinicola enucleator leucura, PINE GROSBEAK.—Common
W. V. Very abundant some seasons, never entirely absent in win-
ter from sections where the maple is well fruited. Sing softly in
March.

89. Carpodacus purpureus. PURPLE FINCH.—Abundant S. R.
This bird is increasing in Southern Vermont, Nests in and near
Brattleboro village, ang all across the State to the hills about the
Deerfield River. Dr. Ross gives it as S. R. in Bennington, but not
common.

90. Loxia curvirostra minor. AMERICAN GROSSBILL.—R. Less
common in the winter than at any other season. Find the bird nest-
ing only in the hill towns, 1200 feet altitude, but straying flocks are
met with in the valleys all summer, as in Brattleboro,

91. Loxia leucoptera. WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL.—W. V.
Rare.

92. Acanthus linarai. REDPOLL.—W. V, in towns of lower alti-
tude. Found birds evidently building in Somerset and Stratton.

93. Astragalinus tristiss AMERICAN GOLDFINCH.—R. Not
common in the winter,

94. Spinus pinus. PINE SISKIN.—W. V. The first week in
August I found this bird on the hills of Dover. One record of nest-
ing in Brattleboro.

95. Passerina nivalis. SNOW BUNTING.—W,. V. Common.

96. Calcarius lapponicus. LAPLAND LONGSPUR.—M. V. Rare.

97. Pooecetes gramineus, VESPER SPARROW.—S. R. Abundant
in most pasture land. Not so numerous as the Savanna in Stamford
and Pownal.

98. Passerculus Sandwichensis Savanna. SAVANNA SPARROW.
Common S. R. Abundant in the hill towns in the meadows.

99. Coturniculus Savannarum _ passerinus. GRASSHOPPER
SPARROW.—Uncommon §. R. except in extreme southern portion of
the State. In both meadow and pastures.

100. Zonctrich leucophrys. WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW.—
Common M.

101. Zonotrith albicollis. WHITE-THROATED SPARROW.—
S. R. Common in the hill towns. Oceasionally a few strays winter
in the lowlands.

102. Spizella monticola. TRHE SPARROW.—W. V. Abundant.

103. Spizella socialis—S. R. Abundant near all habitations. I
never find this bird in the hill towns far from the farms, except oc-
casionally in such pastures as the Field Sparrow frequents.

104. Spizella pusilla. FIELD SPARROW.—S. R. Abundant in all
our townships in the rough hilly pastures among the young pines
and junipers, (Juniperus virgincanus).

105. Junco hyemalis, JUNCO.—S. R. Abundant above 1000 feet.
Occasionally winters with us.

VERMONT BIRD CLUB sti

106. Melospiza cenerea melodiaa SONG SPARROW.—S. R.
Abundant.

107 Melospiza lincolni LINCOLN’S FINCH.—M. Not common.

108. Melospiza georgiana. SWAMP SPARROW.—S. R.

109. Passerella_ ilica. FOX SPARROW.—M. I think this bird
more common on the eastern than on the western side of the State.
It is a common spring migrant in Windham County, much less com-
mon in Fall.

110. Passer domesticus. ENGLISH SPARROW.—As yet this bird
seems not to have spread far from the villages along the line of the
railroads, Numerous on both eastern and western borders of the
State, and in the West River and Deerfield valleys.

111. Pipilo erythrophtl almus. CHEWINK.—S. R. Common.

112. Cardinalis cardinalis—Reported in Brattleboro by observers
who know the bird in the South, Have not been able to verify re-
port.

113. Zamelodia ludoviciana. ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK.—
S. R. Common and growing more abundant.

114. Cyanospiza cyanea. INDIGO BUNTING.—S. R, Common.

115. Piranga erythromelas. SCARLET TANAGER.—S. R. In all
open woodland. Found with the Rose-breasted Grosbeak about all
clearings in the mountain forests.

116. Progne _ subis. PURPLE MARTIN.—S. R. Not common.
More abundant on the western side of Bennington county. Since
the destruction by the long cold rains of 1903 most of the old haunts
are still deserted, or sparingly occupied.

117.—Petrochelidon lunifrons. CLIFF SWALLOW.—S. R. Abun-
dant.

118. Hirundo erythrogaster. BARN SWALLOW. S. R. Abun-
dant.

119. Iridoproene bicolor. TREE SWALLOW.—S. R.

120. Riparia riparia. BANK SWALLOW.—S. R.

121. Ampelus garrulus—BOHEMIAN WAXWING.—M, Reported
from Bennington County. Identified one flock in Brattleboro. April
1901.

122. Ampelis cedrorum. CEDAR WAXWING.—S. R. Abundant
in both counties. In flocks in the orchards in May eating insects.
Find them every month from March until October.

123. Lanius borealis. NORTHERN SHRIKE.—W. V.

124. Lanius ludovicianus migrans. MIGRANT SHRIKE—S. R.
Not common.

125. Vireo. olivaceous. RED-EYED VIREO.—S. R. Abundant.

126. Vireo philadelphicus. PHILADELPHIA VIREO.—S. R.
Found the bird nesting in Brattleboro in June 1901 In the spring
of 1905 identified a number during the migration period early in May,
and think further records of nesting could be made for Southern
Vermont.

Note—Mrs. C. P. Webster found a pair nesting in Morrisville.

127. Vireo gilvus.s WARBLING VIREO.—S. R. This bird, with
the Yellow-throated Vireo, is found about all our villages and occa-
Sionally about the near by farms.

128. Vireo flavifrons. YELLOW-THROATED VIREO.—S. R.

129. Vireo solitarius. SOLITARY VIREO.—S. R. Abundant in
Windham County, also in the eastern portion of Bennington County,
less so on the extreme western side of the State.

130. Vireo noveboracense, WHITEHE-EYED VIREO.—This bird
frequents Chesterfield township, N. H. in latitude of Brattleboro.

12 BULLETIN 2%

Have found it once only this side of the river.

131. Mniotilta varia. BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER.—S. R.

132. Helmintho phila chrysopteras GOLDEN-WINGED WAR-
BLER.—Have found this bird rarely in migration. No record of
nesting. Le ;

133. Helminthophila rubricapillaa NASHVILLE WARBLER.—
Abundant S. R.

134. Helminthophila peregrina. TENNESSEE WARBLER.—M.

135. Compsothlypis americana usnea. ..NORTHERN PALM
WARBLER.—S. R. Abundant in the Hemlock swamps of our hills.

136.—Dendroica_ tigrina, CAPE MAY WARBLER.—M. Some
years entirely absent. Never numerous.

137. Dendroica aestiva. SUMMER YELLOW-BIRD.—Common
S. R. More abundant in Bennington County than in Windham
County.

138. Dendroica caerulescens. BLACK-THROATED BLUE WAR-
BLER.—S. R. Abundant in all swampy forest land in the hill towns.
in many sections they are numerous, most generally distributed
warbler of the hill towns.

139. Dendroica coronata. YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER.—S.
R. occasionally. Mostly M. Have found this bird and the magno-
lia, feeding young near Brattleboro at about 600 feet altitude, The
latter was in a swamp with heavy cover of hemlock, and the vets
rump on the higher ground in the mixed growth.

140. Dendroica maculosa. MAGNOLIA WARBLER.—Common §.
R. frequenting almost every growth of young coniferous trees on the ~
hilly pastures where the cover is not too open.

141. Dendroica pennsylvanica, CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER.
—Common S. R. frequenting the open growth of deciduous trees and
shrubbery of both lowland and mountain.

142. Dendroica castanea. BAY-BREASTED WARBLER.—M. of
irregular oceurrenee, More often found in the Deerfield Valley than
in the valley of the Connecticut swampy maples.

143. Dendroica striata. BLACK-POLL WARBLER.—M. Common.

144. Dendroica blackburniae. BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER.—
Common S. R. Nesting usually in hemlock, but feeding much in
oaks and maples... I mention this feeding habit. as most authorities
give the habitat among coniferous trees.

145. Dendroica virens, BLACK-THROATED GREEN WAR-
BLER.—S. R. frequenting all the hemlock forests of the-hills.

146. Dendroica vigorsii PINE WARBLER.—S. R. Not abundant,
but almost every growth of white pine is the summer home of a pair
of these birds. Occasionally I find them in the hemlocks.

147.. Dendroica palmyrum hypochrysea, YELLOW PALM WAR-
BLER.—M, of irregular occurrence.

148. Seiurus aurocapillus. OVEN-BIRD.—S. R. Common.

149. Seiurus noveboracensis. NORTHERN WATER THRUSH.—
Uncommon S§. R. :

150. Seiurus motacilla. LOUISIANA WATER THRUSH.—Dur-
ing the fall migration ‘this bird came to the bathing pans near the
house. It remained about the orcharg and lawns for a part of the
day. Knowing Vermont to be entirely out of its range, I verified
again and again the distinctive markings. I have a record for nest
and young on Leyden Brook, fifteen miles south of Brattleboro, hav-
ing had both parent birds under close observation for several hours’
while feeding young.

151. Geothylpis agilis.s CONNECTICUT WARBLER.—Rare M. I

VERMONT BIRD CLUB 13

have two spring records. The more interesting was May 1901. The
bird frequented the shrubbery, feeding about the roots, often com-
ing out into the open ground, When disturbed it rarely took wing,
but ran rapidly to cover among the bushes. A cold storm delayed the
northward movement of the migrants, and this bird tarried several
days with the flock which was made up of our more common war-
blers.

152. Geothylphis philadelphiaa MOURNING WARBLER.—Com
mon S. R. of the bushy clearings of our mountain woods, and moun-
tain meadows where maples, birches and beeches are scattered in
neighborly groops, and give protection to the berry bushes from the
brousing cattle.

153. Geothylpis trichus brachidactylaa NORTHERN YELLOW
THROAT.—Abundant S. R.

154. Wilsonia pusilla. WILSON’S BLACKCAP.—M. Common in
the spring. ‘ -

155. Wilsonia canadensis. CANADIAN WARBLER.—Common 8.
R. in all the hill towns.

156. Setophage ruticillaa AMERICAN REDSTART.—Abundant
S. R.

157. Anthus pensilvanicus. AMERICAN PIPIT.—M. Have found
it only in the fall.

158. Galeoscoptis carolinensis. CATBIRD.—S. R.

159. Toxostoma rufum, BROWN THRASHER.—S. R. Found
this bird more numerous in the township of Stamford than in any
other town of the two counties.

160. Troglodytes aedon. HOUSE WREN.—S. R. Much more rare-
ly found than 1880-1890.

161. Olbiorchilus hiemalis, WINTER WREN.—S. R. in the moun-
tain towns.

162. Telmatodytes palustris. LONG-BILLED MARSH WREN.—
One record, Brattleboro May 1902.

163. Certhia familiaris americana. BROWN CREEPER.—R. Had
a pair under observation an entire winter and a single bird a second
winter. Breeds in the hill towns.

164. Sitta carolinensis. WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH.—R.

165. Sitta canadensis, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH.—R. Less
common in winter than the former. Breeds spariingly at the lower
altitudes. ;

166. Parus tricapillus. CHICKADEE.—R. Abundant.

167. Parus hudsonius, HUDSONIAN CHICADEE.—W. V. rare.

168. Regulus Satrapa. GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET.—-R.
breeding in the hill towns, and wintering in coniferous forests of the
lower altitrdes.

169.—Regules calendula. RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET.—M.

170. Hylocichla mustelince. WOOD THRUSH.—S. R. Common in
the lower range of townships.

171. Hylocichla fuscescens. WILSON’S THRUSH.—S. R. Com-
mon.

172. WHylocichla aliciae bicknelli. BICKNELL’S THURSH.M.

173. Hylocichla ustulata swainsonii. SWAINSON’S THRUSH.—
S. R. Not uncommon in the hill towns. ,

174. Hylocichla guttata_ palassi. HERMIT THRUSH.—S. R.
Found in every township. In the southern range of townships occu-
pies same territory as the Wood Thrush, allowing for differences in
environment of nesting sites. In the hill: towns, and hills of other
towns, in same found area with the Swainson. I should say the.most

14 BULLETIN 2

abundant Thrush of the two counties,

175. Merula migratoria. AMERICAN ROBIN.—S. R. Occasion-
ally R.

176. Sialia sialis. BLUE BIRD.—S, R.

R., resident; S. R., summer resident; M., migrant; W V., winter
visitant.

PROBLEMS OF THE VERMONT BIRD CLUB.
CARLTON D. HOWE.

Feeling that there are some important matters which
should be brought to the attention of the members of the
Vermont Bird Club, the writer has selected the title of
“Problems” as a suitable caption through which to express
his thoughts.

There comes a time in the life of an organization, as well
as in the life of an individual when it is wise to meditate
upon the “whys” and “wherefores” of existence, to get away
from the cares of the world, as it were, and to have a
period of retrospection and introspection. The results of
such processes of self-examination are beneficial.

The Vermont Bird Club is in the sixth year of its exist-
ence. During this short time it has proved its right to
live and its necessity as a state organization. If we were
not too modest, we might well congratulate ourselves
upon its success thus far. However, it is not to the past,
but to the future to which I wish especially to invite
your attention.

One of the problems to be considered is that of member-
ship. It is by no means our policy to place upon rolls those
whose stay with us would be transient and fleeting. But
we do need more members, two classes of them, each equal-
ly important, (1) those who are able to do scientific, re-
search work, and (2) those who are interested in the bird
life of our state to such an extent that they are willing to
become permanent members of the Club. All of our acti-
vities are supported by the proceeds from the annual dues
alone. We must issue the yearly bulletin of the Club.
There are other things we would like to do, if we only
had the money.

At present there are 94 members of the Vermont Bird
Club. It is interesting to notice their distribution. There
are 2 members from Addison County, 3 from Bennington,
24 from Chittenden, 9 from Caledonia, o from Essex, 1 from
Franklin, o from Grand Isle, 7 from Lamoille, 6 from
Orange, 0 from Orleans, 18 from Rutland, 1 from Washing-

VERMONT BIRD CLUB 15

ton, 6 from Windham, and 2 from Windsor. I1 members
reside outside of Vermont. These 83 members are resi-
dents of only 30 different towns and cities. We should
have a member of the Vermont Club in every town in the
state. If I remember aright, there are 246 towns in Ver-
mont. Therefore 216 towns are not represented in our
Club.

Every present member should make it a matter of per-
sonal interest and pride to increase the Club’s membership.
Cannot each one of us obtain at least two new members
each year? We realize that only a small portion of the
members are able to attend the annual meetings, and in the
past we have lost members on that account. As the annual
Bird Bulletin is now an assured fact, we hope that it will
keep such members in closer touch with the Club and
sustain a binding and enduring interest. Now, then, it
behooves us to make this Bulletin of ever increasing at-
tractiveness and value. é

In the Constitution of the Vermont Bird Club you may
read that one of its objects is “to collect and preserve in-
formation concerning those species found in the state.”
For the past three years the Club has distributed migration
blanks upon which to record the species observed, and other
data, throughout the year. There are only eight members
who have returned to the secretary completed migration
lists for two consecutive years. We freely admit that a
majority of the members cannot keep such a list. But is
not this number eight altogether too small? Let us make
the number twenty and let us begin now. What a gain it
would be in our knowledge of Vermont Birds, if there were
twenty stations throughout the state where migration lists
were being kept.

Again from our Constitution we read “to encourage an
interest in birds and to promote scientific investigations.”
It seems to me we lack enthusiasm in this line of our effort.
Let us take for our example in promoting interest and
scientific investigations our sister Club in Botany. Just
think for a moment what the Vermont Botanical Club has
accomplished during the twelve years of its existence.
There is probably not a town, territory, gore, mountain,
lake, valley, pond or swamp in the entire state that has not
disclosed its secrets, to a greater or less degree, to some
member of that Club. How enthusiastic and painstaking
its officers are and how they transmit that enthusiasm to
each individual member. Are we, officers of the Vermont
Bird Club, remiss in our duty?

16 BULLETIN 2

The Botanical Club is creating and training constantly
skilled botanists. It has them in all stages of development
from embryo to maturity. It includes among its member-
ship botanists who are known, honored and revered beyond
the limits of Vermont, New England and the United
States, in fact every where that flowers are studied and
loved. Why has Vermont never produced a trained, ex-
pert, famous ornithologist?

The Botanical Club has the advantage of the Bird Club in
one intensely interesting and all absorbing line of investi-
gations. I refer to the dividing and subdividing of speices,
Think of the crategus, the sedges, the violets, and the
blackberries. How fascinating it is to discover, to estab-
lish and to name new species and varieties. Is the tenden-
cy to vary greater among plants than among birds or are
the senses of the botanists keener and their power of ob-
servation more acute’ Is it possible for us, members of
the Bird Club to subdivide the Vermont crow into thirty
or forty varieties?

There appeared in the village of Essex Junction two sum-
mers ago a robin which imitated the whippoorwill’s song so
perfectly as to deceive the trained ear. Now let us name
this particular robin merula migratoria, variety whippoor-
willia. I have the type species. All you need to do is to
discover the recurrence of whippoorwillia in other parts of
the state and then our variety will be established.

There is another robin at the present time in Essex Junc-
tion reared in the house from a fledgeling, never having
heard the song of its own kind. When it began to sing it
did not sing the robin’s song but those seemingly of its own
invention. The good lady who raised the bird maintains
that it takes some of its tunes from a neighbor’s phono-
graph. Let us name this bird merula migratoria phono-
graphia.

The last but by no means the least among the objects of
our Club is “to secure protection to all useful species of
birds.” It is a well known fact that the bird laws of Ver-
mont are not strictly enforced. Moreover, in certain sec-
tions they are openly and grossly disobeyed. In many
towns where a foreign element predominates birds are in-
discriminately slaughtered, being used in many cases by
such people for food.

There is more than one town in Vermont where the birds
are practically shot out of existence. In the summer of
1905 a member of the Bird Club passed through a town in
southern Vermont, where most of the birds had been shot,

VERMONT BIRD. CLUB 17

A stray phoebe or blue bird, and a few warblers made the
whole list. Can we who are surrounded and uplifted by
the sweet and beautiful songs of birds every summer’s day,
can we imagine such a condition of things? Can we real-
ize what it means to such a community?

In some localities in the State, a strong feeling against
birds seems to be held by the fruit growers. At the latest
session of the Legislature an effort was made to have the
cedar waxwing or cherry bird taken from the protected
list. Through the efforts of the Vermont Bird Club and
the State Audubon Society and through the good sense of
the Fish and Game Committee to which the bill was re-
ferred, the waxwing was saved from legal slaughter. The
danger always exists in our body politic of one individual
or a small group of individuals, on account of injuries,
either actual or fancied, endeavoring to have laws passed,
state or national in scope, that cover single particular
cases. Such individuals blinded by their own personal in-
terests, are incapable of seeing that what may be detrimen-
tal to the one actually is for the best good of the many.

The first 19 years of my life I lived upon a farm on which
one of the chief products was berries. J can sympathize
with the fruit grower who is troubled by the birds. Every-
body realizes that birds occasionally injure crops seriously.
But there are other ways of keeping them away than by use
of powder and shot,

The fruit growers know perfectly well what those other
effectual ways. are and should use them in the place of
killing. The point to be remembered always is this that
taking the season as a whole the amount of good which the
bird does over-balances the injury.

When the birds are eating your fruit and the products of
your gardens, bear in mind that they are only taking their
pay for the good service they have rendered you. I admit
that sometimes it takes a good deal of grace to do this, but
it is man’s plain duty.

It is our problem to educate the public in regard to the
economic value of birds. The farmer should be taught
that the birds are his best friends, that they are of incalcu-
lable value to him and his crops. When the farmer, the
fruit grower and orchardist fully realize this fact, there
will be no trouble from that source in the full protection
which the birds deserve.

In the summer time from the mountain tops, hillsides and
valleys of Vermont, multitudes of the beautiful songsters

18 BULLETIN 2

are giving forth constantly their sweet carols of joy, praise,
and gladness, and I think also, if we interpret their songs
aright they are inviting the members of the Vermont Bird
Club to study their habits more fully and carefully, to pro-
tect them more thoroughly, and to love them more deeply.

NESTING OF THE WINTER WREN.
Troglodytes hiemalis.

Gro ROSS:

The winter wren occurs during the breeding season from
Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island on the east to
Manitoba on the west and south to Massachusetts and
central New York, though along the mountains it is found
through Pennsylvania, .Virginia, W. Virginia to North
North Carolina, Northern Illinois, Indiana and Central
Iowa are its western limits.

The winter wren breeds generally throughout Vermont
in suitable localities. In and around Rutland they are found
from 600 feet up. As there is a greater quantity of suitable
cover in the mountain towns they are more plentiful there.
Any good sized bit of lowland swamp or wet woodland
containing a number of upturned roots is pretty certain to
harbor a pair.

Until the past spring though I had searched a number of
times I had neverseen a nest, though several hours at a time
had been put in watching individual birds during the breed-
ing season chasing them around, and examining stumps,
trees, roots, etc.

On May 2ist, 1906, a friend and myself started to ascend
Shrewsbury mountain, one of the three high peaks about ten
miles east of Rutland. It was also the intention to keep
watch for winter wrens as the territory was such that they
would be plentiful. During the first part of the trip up the
mountain several were heard, but no stop was made as the
mountain was to be climbed first and any remaining time
given to the wrens.

However, coming at length to a cluster of half a dozen
upturned tree roots, we decided to examine them. From
one of them out popped a wren. Surely here was a nest,
but a most careful search failed to discover it. The bird
lingering near, was watched for sime time but with no
result, Finally, my companion called me to him. There in a
large upturned spruce root near him was a nest. It was

VERMONT BIRD CLUB 19

3 1-2 feet from the ground placed inconspicuously among a
mass of roots. The nest was dome shaped with an entrance
near the centre of the side toward us, The round entrance
was the only conspicuous part of it. It was made outward-
ly of green moss and lined with fine black roots and a few
feathers. It was rather shallow front to rear, owing to the
space between the roots being small. However, it was
an old nest, and search through the remaining roots fail-
ed to reveal a new one.

Farther along the way we came to an overhanging bank
full of roots. Search here revealed an old nest. .Coming
down after the ascent of the mountain we examined each
upturned root. In one spruce root which had two over-
hanging flaps of earth and roots, on the main body of roots
and opposite the larger flap so as to be in the shadow a new
nest was found. This was about 18 inches from the
ground. It was made of fresh green moss, soft and yield-
ing to the touch. It was as yet unlined. This was cun-
ningly concealed among the numerous small roots and
was conspicuous only because of the round hole for the en-
trance. Directly in the opening between the two flaps and
thirty inches from the ground was an old nest. No wrens
were heard or seen near this nest. However, it was now
in the afternoon, and while wrens were heard frequently
during the forenoon, none were heard in the afternoon.

Two more nests were found May 22nd. One was an
old nest and rather conspicuous, 3 feet up from the ground
among the roots of an upturned stump. The other was
new and incompleted. This was four feet up in a rather
large upturned spruce root. Root was about 8 feet high
by 9 feet across. It was fresh and green and not quite all
lined. So it was left for two weeks and visited on June
5th as I wished to see the eggs. However, the nest was
empty. But as the wren is said to be very particular in re-
gard to disturbance of or handling of its nest before the
eggs are laid, it may have been deserted from this cause.
This nest was quite shallow from front to back, as seems to
be commonly the case, lack of space between the roots be-
ing the cause. The new nest found first being so far away
was not again visited as it was expected this other nest
would be laid in. Thus the eggs were not seen.

Another nest was found August 12th, while visiting a
mountain pond in Chittenden with a friend, who said that in
June he had heard a wren singing on one side of the pond.
As there were quite a number of upturned trees and

20 BULLETIN 2

stumps a search was made. The nest was finally found in a
small root less than four feet across and about 4 feet high.
It was near the centre about two feet up from the
ground. It was still quite green, fresh and showed traces
of a brood having been raised. Further search revealed no
other nest.

After finding the nests in May, Mr. Duane Kent of Rut-
land was told about the nesting places of this species.
While on a trip to his home near Spectacle Pond in Wal-
lingford, which the club has visited on one of its summer
meetings, he found two nests. One found the fourth day of
June containing five slightly incubated eggs. This nest
was on the under side of an overhanging flap of an upturned
spruce root. The root was quite large, about to feet high.
Nest about 7 feet up so it could just be reached. .The nest
was rather flimsy. It had a lining of partridge feathers.
The bird remained.on until almost touched. The other nest
was new and incomplete. It was 12 inches from the ground
and quite bulky. Mr. Kent was unable to visit it later, so
he does not know if eggs were laid or not.

This makes a total of nine nests, enough to justify us in
drawing a few conclusions in regard to nesting site, etc.

All nests were placed in trees so recently uprooted, that
the small rootlets had had no chance to decay and fall away,
leaving only .dirt and large roots. |The small rootlets
afford not only concealment but support, the nest being of
moss, a flimsy material. Where old roots seem to con-
sist largely of earth and stones, it seems a waste of time to
search them. In two cases the nests were so concealed by
overhanging flaps as to be entirely hidden. In the others
they were in plain view and conspicuous on account of the
little, round entrance hole. Except where Mr Kent found
the nest, no wrens were seen or heard in the vicinity. In
the one case where both birds were seen and heard in the
vicinity of a numbe- of upturned roots, caref1i search on
two different days failed to discover a nest.

From the nest with incubated eggs on June 4th and the
incompleted nests of May 2ist, and 22nd, it would seem
that about June Ist was the proper date for eggs. But as
the spring of 1906 was quite backward, we might assign
about May 20th to 25th as the ordinary dates. Search
should be made among the roots of upturned trees. Ever-
green trees are the most favorable on account of their thick
mass of fine rootlets.

VERMONT BIRD CLUB 21

OUR THRUSHES AND THEIR SONGS.
MISS ISABEL M. PADDOCK.

In talking with other people about birds, no group has
seemed more difficult for them to identify clearly than the
thrushes, and yet, paradoxically, the thrush is frequently
one of the first birds learned. The reason is not far to seek,
The usual song of these birds, of whichever variety, attracts
the attention of even a casual listener, and stimulates his
curiosity to see the bird which can produce such wild music:
But even after continued study so shy are the thrushes, and
so little striking in appearance, that it is difficult to be quite
sure of them and to distinguish the varieties unerringly.

Of the five thrushes found in New England, the Veery or
Wilson’s thrush is generally distributed throughout Ver-
mont. The Hermit and the Olive-backed or Swainson’s
thrush are common in the northern part of the State, the
wood thrush in the southern, while the Bicknell is found on
the tops of the highest motntains.

Here in St. Johnsbury, the hermit and veery are very ¢ com-
mon, but the wood thrush has never been authentically re-
ported, though it has been reported from Willoughby Lake,
25 miles north of here. and from Lake Memphremagog.

The olive-backed I have only seen here in migration, but
the entire quintette of New England thrushes may be heard
on the slope of Mt. Mansfield during the last five miles of
the ascent, from the place where the steepest, wooded part
of the mountain road begins to the summit.» I say “heard,”
feeling quite sure that to hear them is the simplest way to
learn to distinguish them.

It is not always easy to see the pale eye-ring of the olive-
backed, and the birds will seldom be obliging enough to
turn their backs in order that you may remember and verify
the rule. “The wood thrush is reddest on the head, the her-
mit is reddest on the tail, and the veery has a uniformily
tawny back.”

Perhaps it is easier to know the hermit’s trick of waving
his tail slowly up and down, not, like the phoebe, down-
ward, but rather upward from the horizontal plane. Also
that the wood thrush is heavily spotted with black and
the veery scarcely spotted at all. But for sure identification
depend upon your ear rather than your eye. The song of
the veery is vibrant and ringing, with a jewsharp like qual-
ity, and ends lower than it began, The Bicknell’s song is
of a similar quality, but more “elaborate form.

22 BULLETIN 2

The Swainson or olive-backed and the hermit songs end
on a higher pitch than the beginning and consist of more
distinct tones, not as rapidly delivered or run together.

The wood thrush sings with a clear and flute-like quality,
now lower, now higher, and intersperses low blackbird-like
clucks not audible at a little distance. Its song suggests the
syllables ‘“eo-lee,” or “Come to me.” The hermit’s song
consists of distinct phrases, no two successively on the same
pitch and each pausing on the first note of the phrase, then
ascending upward. Some of these phrases are pitched so
high as to be scarcely musical to the human ear, while
others are a beautiful contralto. The olive-backed’s song
most resembles the hermit’s except that it does not pause
on the first note, and the successive phrases are usually on
the same key-note.

I do not know how much a musical notation of these
songs may help to identify them. I have found it helpful to
do this, and others have the same habit. In the hope that
these notes jotted down the past two seasons may be help-
ful to some.one else, I offer them to you now. But before
giving them I beg to say that it is utterly hopeless to at-
tempt to reproduce these upon the piano. Much bird music
certainly does have a definite pitch and sequence of tone,
which to a musically trained mind is capable of reproduc-
tion in written notes, but to reproduce the tones with any
instrument of differing quality is absolutely impossible, and
is not the intention of those who try to write them. The
notation is merely to convey some idea of the range and in-
tervals of the bird notes, to aid the memory in placing the
song, just as a photograph recalls a face but cannot repro-
duce its vivacity and coloring.

The nearest approach to imitation can be obtained by the
human whistle, but that is frequently an insult to the bird.

VERMONT BIRD CLUB : 23

Song: forme of our I cn Ne a,

1 er mit eee wen : "Te shows aXe qQener a\

form. which 16 cap able of wefin ite variation

ita d

ee

5 ey 1 er Se ——
aga SSEPENT Lal

SS Wamntons ov O\we Backoe VWarcuca. Sens
Xo The Weemites, bitt wath ont Pause ox change of pitch.

Wood Bee NA Ride ikke on Whe lower moles,
Ane Treille have the quality he Meine sTeuck Vooether.

i Re 5 aera ov Veery. \ series of vibrations.

Reknc\\s BR ae Wes Wie quality of Wilsons,
bul a aArslnekt rhythm, Thus - a 3

an Song 2 accompanyed by Vow VNacklhivd-like clucks.

24 BULLETIN 2

NOTES FROM A BIRD TABLE.
(An Abstract.) :
MISS MARION BOLE.

As a boarding house is a good place in which to study
human nature, so a bird table furnishes an excellent oppor-
tunity for the study of bird character. When observed
thus at close range especially after the birds have lost much
of their natural timidity, they often develop most unex-
pected traits. Who, for example, would ever suspect the
gentle soft-voiced bluebird of being a tyrant? Certainly
nothing in my previous knowledge of the bird had prepar-
ed me for the action of a pair that nested in one of my
bird boxes last summer. They not only took possession of
the chickadee’s table and drove the inoffensive woodpeckers
from their suet on the tree but they also laid claim to all of
the five bird houses which I had provided and after they
had selected one for their own use, the male bluebird made
it his business to see that the other four remained unoc-
cupied.

Some birds, on the other hand, improve with longer
acquaintance. The blue jay, although he has such a bad re-
putation and is doubtless a sad rascal during the nesting
season, is most interesting and entertaining as a winter
boarder. I have never found the jays quarrelsome among
themselves, any number of them eating at the same table.
Never have I seen them molest the smaller birds. The jay
is naturally very shy and suspicious and it is no easy mat-
ter to gain his confidence, but he is also a very intelligent
bird and when once he loses his fear and begins to feel at
home ke proves himself the very best of company.

One little trick that I saw was quite amusing. One
jay came late for his dinner and as the board was small
and the other jays were crowded around, there seemed to
be a poor prospect for the new-comer. He proved equal to
the occasion, however, for instead of trying to crowd in he
perched on the tree above the board and gave the jay alarm
signal. If a shot had been fired among them it could not
have been more effective. Every jay was out of sight in
less time than it takes to tell it. Then the rascal who had
given the alarm flew down and ate his dinner. I saw that
little trick played more than once, but the last time I saw it
tried one of the jays came back and had a settlement.

Of course the chickadee is always a standby at every
winter bird table and he seems to be a general favorite,

VERMONT BIRD CLUB ° 25

not that his disposition is by any means-angelic for the
chickadee has enough of what we are accustomed to call
human nature to keep him from becoming tiresome. It re-
quires a good sized table to accommodate two chickadees at
the same time and my hand is the scene of many a spirited
encounter till the question of precedence is finally settled.

I do not know of a bird that seems better able to take
care of itself than this same alert little chickadee. Nothing
seems to escape his bright little eyes and if I place food in
an unaccustomed place I feel sure that it will not be long
before the chickadee will discover it although it may take
days for the woodpecker and nuthatch to find it out.

Of course different individuals vary greatly in intelli-
gence. A chickadee that I have recently tamed proves to
be a bird of unsual intelligence. It very soon learned
that it could call me out by coming to the back of a chair
that stands in front of the kitchen window. This it proba-
bly learned from another bird which has that habit, but in-
stead of fluttering before the glass as the other bird does to
attract attention it adopted the habit of clinging to the
sash and if that does not succeed it sometimes taps on the
glass. It soon learned to try the sitting room window
when it found no one in the kitchen. It comes so often that
it has really got to be quite a serious hindrance to any work.
It will cling to the sash or tap on the glass till I speak or
rise when it immediately flies to the kitchen window and
watches there till I appear; then it usually flies down out
the door mat or on the edge of the chair so as to be ready
the minute I open the door, I have great difficulty in keep-
ing it out of the house, indeed it often gets in in spite of
me.

A summer bird table although not as necessary is I
think quite as interesting as a winter table. The song
Sparrow chipping sparrow, oriole, catbird and others are
usually glad of a little assistance while they are rearing the
young and as they often bring the young birds to the table
as soon as they are able to fly, it gives one a good opportuni-
ty to observe the family life. The song and chipping spar-
row are both very easily tamed. I have had both these
birds take food from my hand and I am sure if they remain
ed with us during the winter they would be quite as tame
as the chickadees.

Besides my regular boarders I have many transients
that stop off a few days or perhaps a week or two on their
way north or south. These strangers are always doubly

26 BULLETIN 2

welcome for sometimes they are birds that I do not often
have an opportunity to observe at close range. My list of
boarders, including transients, numbers morethan 25 species
and each season adds new names to the list. Sometimes a
fox sparrow or the beautiful white crowned will favor me
with its company for a week or two. Last spring a
meadowlark found its way to my table during a late snow-
storm. It only stayed one day, but a flock of rusty black-
birds were so well pleased with the board that they re-
mained for more than a week and their monotonous song
which reminded me of a rusty . weather vane was heard
from morning till night.

I had another new boarder last spring, the phoebe, a
bird which I never expected to see at my table. I have
often felt so sorry for the phoebe during a cold spell in
early spring, but the poor things always seemed either
hopelessly stupid or else incapable of departing in the
slightest degree from the tradition of their ancestors, so
that I had long since given up trying to do anything for
them, but last spring an enterprising phoebe actually dis-
covered my bird table-and its method of feeding was
quite characteristic and to me very interesting. It took its
position on a fence post and proceeded exactly as 1f it
were capturing an insect, taking the food on the wing and
always returning to the same post to eat it. After a time
I did see, it light on the board and take a few bites, but it
worked almost as awkardly and out of place as a wood:
pecker in the same position.

es

A WARBLER GUEST.
(An Abstract.)

EMILY: AND, SUSAN,-E; GLARE

We have found the yellow warblers unusually plenti-
ful this past season, arriving on the fourteenth of May.
About nine o’cock on the morning of the twentieth one of
them was discovered on a low bush beside our doorstep,
perched very near the ground. It was so unusual to see
a warbler in such a position and keeping so quiet that we
watched it for some time, fearing it might be hurt, and
noticed that it panted or breathed heavily. Finally it went
on the ground and hopped about, so we endeavored to
catch it for fear of prowling cats. While it trotted along
just ahead of us it would not allow iself to be caught,

Pe ee ee ee ee

VERMONT BIRD CLUB 27

though it did not offer to fly for some time. At length,
however, it flew into a tree with a slow and heavy motion
and apparent effort. Then we left it, thinking it safe.
Soon after it flew to the roof of the house and back again
to its original position on the bush. At intervals it hopped
about, pecking a little here and there on the ground, but
we could not be sure that it ate anything. We tried to
toll it along to a place where we could watch it more easily
from a window, and it moved slowly as we walked behind,
but soon returned to the door step and remained in that
vicinity the rest of the day. In the afternoon it made an
effort to fly into a tree, but only fluttered a little and
dropped back to the ground, apparently too weak to fly up.
As we watched it we saw it cough as our canary had done.

In the latter part of the afternoon a member of the
family who was watching the warbler saw it totter and
fall and ran to pick it up, when the bird breathed its last
in her hand. It has been claimed by some observers that
no wild bird ever died a natural death. When we consi-
der the multitude of their enemies, their struggle with the
elements, sudden changes of temperature, and perils en-
countered on their long semi-annual migrations, it would
seem that the statement is not an exaggeration. Mr. Wil-
liam J. Long, however, describes the death of a warbler,
which he witnessed, and which he ascribes to old age. The
whole appearance and manner of death of our yellow war-
bler were so similar to that of a pet canary which had been
one of our family for years and had recently died of old
age that it seems probable this bird, too, died a natural
death at the end of his span of life.

SOME BIRD ACQUAINTANCES.
(An Abstract.)

EMMA E. DREW.

This paper tells in an interesting way of the bird ac-
quaintances made by the writer in Jay, N. Y., the obser-
vations being made. from the piazza of the house. A pair of
red-eyed vireos built their nest in the near-by branches of
an apple tree. She watched the process of home building,
the eggs and finally the young which she fed with meal
worms to the evident satisfaction and appreciation of the
parents. A white-breasted nuthatch became such a close
friend that she called him “chum”. He came to her in the

28 BULLETIN 2

house or in the garden, sometimes climbing the whole
length of her body and often eating his entire lunch from
her hand. This little friend brought his wife and five lit-
tle‘ones to.a tree near the veranda, about the middle of
June, but while he came freely as usual neither Mrs.
nuthatch or any of her interesting family could be per-
suaded to come near. Chickadees, nuthatches, goldfinches,
downy and hairy woodpeckers, tree sparrows and blue
jays were among the number of bird acquaintances that
partook of the dainties of the veranda lunch counter; the
first mentioned taking food from the hand. A flock of ten
red-winged crossbills were observed from April 30 to June
8. She attracted them by means of pieces of salt pork at-
tached to the limbs of trees. While feeding they would
give a whistling note. At intervals one would stop feed-
ing and give a song, a sweet little song, not powerful or
very loud but varied and exceedingly pleasing. The
writer concludes her paper thus: “Let me tell you that the
friendship and the companionship of these little comrades
has been not only a source of great pleasure and comfort
during these few years of enforced exile from home and
friends, but an education as well. Many a needed lesson in
patience have they taught me, many a lesson in affection-
ate consideration as well.”

Miss Drew’s article is printed in full in the May-June
number of Bird Lore.

REPORT OF THE NEW ENGLAND FEDERATION.
MISS DELIA I. GRIFFIN,

The New England Federation of Natural History
Societies which the Vermont Botanical and Bird Clubs
have joined, met at the Roger Williams Park Museum,
Providence, R. I., October 12 and 13, 1906. The Federa-
tion was one year old, and consisted of twenty-four socie-
ties, divided as follows: Fourteen from Massachusetts,
two each from Maine, Vermont, and Rhode Island, one
from New Hampshire, and three which belong to all New
England. Out of this number, nineteen societies were
officially represented at the Providence meeting. About
fifty members of the Federation were in attendance, and
some hundreds of visitors examined the exhibits during the
two days.

These exhibits included specimens of rare flowering
plants, ferns, mosses and liverworts (many of them ar-

VERMONT BIRD CLUB 29

ranged in celluloid mounts, for convenience in handling) ;

valuable shells; native spiders, with photographs of webs;

series of rock specimens, and rare R. I. minerals; exhibits
of beetles, moths and butterflies, inculding a series of the
gypsy moth in all stages; and the publications of several
scientific societies. These publications showed the strong
educational trend of many of the societies, and the work
they were doing for children and in the schools.

All of the scientific societies in Providence were opened
to members of the Federation, as well as the laobratories
of Brown University, the college and city libraries, and
Roger Williams Park.

On Friday evening, at the Zoological Laboratory of
Brown University Prof. A. D. Mead exhibiter the Zeiss
Epidiascope lately presented to the laboratory, which pro-
jects upon the wall opaque as well as transparent objects of
all sizes. There were also exhibited in the laboratory large
series of clams, oysters and scollops, illustrating their
habits and rate of growth.

Saturday afternoon the members of the Federation
visited Warwick Pond, and the site of an old camping
ground of the Narragansett Indians.

The meeting closed on Saturday evening with an il-
lustrated lecture by Mr. Charles Storer, on “Orchids and
Other Rare Plants.”

THE FIFTH ANNUAL FIELD MEETING.

The fifth annual field meeting was held at Mt. Mans-
field July 4th and 5th 1906. On the night of the 3rd the
members of the two clubs assembled at Stowe. The in-
clemency of the weather on the next day prevented some-
what the carrying out of previously laid plans. The summit
was reached in the afternoon and business meeting was
held in the evening. It was voted to hold the winter meet-
ing at St. Johnsbury in January, 1907. Miss Isabel M.
Paddock, Miss Emily Clark, and Mrs. T. C. Fletcher were
appointed a local committee on arrangements. It was
voted to join the New England Federation of Natural
History Societies.

THE SIXTH ANNUAL WINTER MEETING.

The sixth annual winter meeting of the Vermont Bird

30 BULLETIN 2

Club was held at the Fairbank’s Museum, St.. Johnsbury,
January 18-19, 1907. It was the first time within the
history of the club that the winter meeting had been held
elsewhere than in Burlington, but the experiment proved
so successfull that it will probably be repeated from time
to time. As in previous years the sessions were united
with those of the Vermont Botanical Club.

The Fairbank’s museum was the host of the clubs, and
provided Friday evening’s entertainment,an illustrated lect-
ure on “Bird Notes” by Mr. Henry Oldys of the Biological
Survey, Washington, Mr. Oldys’ lecture was illustrated
not only by lantern slides but by remarkably fine imitations
of bird songs, which greatly pleased the large audience that
listened to him.

Eight papers were read, abstracts of which appear in
this Bulletin. Aside from these there were presented
notes, observations and records of interest by the different
members of the club.

The usual business was transacted, the officers were
re-elected, new members were chosen. The club elected
Miss Griffin as their representative at the New England
Federation of Natural History Societies.

The treasurer reported a balance of $27.75 in the
treasury.

The following persons were elected to membership at
the summer meeting at Mt. Mansfield and at the winter
meeting held at St. Johnsbury:

ASIMIS,* MSS MR@sa- die eee. ok nd estes aan Passumpsic, Vt.
Adlen.” Wipe clam Was oe Veen) etm ares caren Westford, Vt.
Auld) Mrs. Josep. vee. . 424 S. Union St. Burlington, Vt.
Buell, Miss Matie V. Redstone............ Burlington, Vt.
Brooks) Wr: Keane sc. ty sc ee: otras ores St. Johnsbury
Brooks) Wiis Apia rales "5000s ac ee) ee eS shee Dene St. Johnsbury
Chamberlain; Miss: Elizabeth, y9.-".\22 7 kee Newbury
Comwel)Wiiss Occitan tan a ee ee Lyndonville
Brainerd, Mrs» Louise a ea ee eee Lyndonville
Guthrie,: Missi Marthe Ar ee aoe ie eee McIndoes Falls
Griswold, Mrs. Inez, A. H...St. Johnsbury R. F. D. No. 4.
Graves, Mise“Sara JB: Say abe eae ae Waterbury
Griffin, Mr. Dy Bieta ee ee ee Winooski
Granger,’ Miss. Annie NLP. 2 2220 a eee East Poultney
Hazen,>\ Miss! Annah, 2 ya White River Junction
Howland,’ Mr."Clark (P).@) eevee eee -...St. Johnsbury
Hubbard; Mrs/4 Sara ACs ies) ee ee ee Fairlee
Harris, "Miss Jean! Sixvs¢ seen Caer East Poultney

Jones, "Mr Chariesetitae. am No. 25 Wilson St. Burlington

VERMONT BIRD CLUB 31

Pek Me George Bey ses eee ee eee Rutland
leer inte VTS UNE Obr k's: 2's 35 Squntdemars ale 2 bees St. Johnsbury
Wewis: Mics Frances... 2.5.3 eee N. Union St. Burlington
McKillip, Mrs. W. B.....No. 230 S. Union St, Burlington
Bere emer ey Min tteee ac o's Ske dG neers te 6 South Royalton
Powell, Miss Gertrude,.........; Williams St. Burlington
Rermtay AVUT SCV RLS eos 3 ws 5 5 eee Boater ks Lyndonville
Se cuhs ei) MAE eo i Rea RRR ee Ce ee Re Burlington
Reecce Nir: tarold: Gis... 2... Poa mec aleteals Hanover, N. H.
Stevens; Miss Mabél::. 2.022280. 3242 08% St. Johnsbury, Vt.
mrome Wiss Belle Ci... 05 3628 See Enosburgh Falls, Vt.
Smnonds, Mrs A; Boo... 254 No. 355 Pearl St. Burlington
Styles, Mr. Humphrey ....No, 103 N. Winooski Ave. Bur.
Maino Mass Cora Dit ei uri ve dole. bees Essex Junction
ireerwoode-Nirs: “Pearl Fists ce coc Pl ee 5 Site eek Hartland
Pemeavinss Watherinee cin Oho. Gt lice e wals Lyndonville

THE NEXT FIELD MEETING.

It was decided at the St. Johnsbury meeting to unite
with the Botanical club in holding the next field meeting at
Pownal, July 1-3. Headquarters will be at Hotel Glen-—
wood, North Pownal where the members and their friends
will assemble on July 1. Tuesday, July 2 will probably be
given to exploring the cliff regions of Pownal Centre, Wed-
nesday will be devoted to the bog regions of the river val-
ley. Mr. D. S. Carpenter of Middletown Springs will act
as local secretary and will attend to local arrangements.

BIRD NOTES.

Mrs. E. B. Davenport of Brattleboro is collecting data
in regard to the range of the wood thrush in Vermont. She
would be pleased to receive reports from members of the
Bird Club.

Miss Isabel M. Paddock of St. Johnsbury contributes
to Chapman’s Warbler’s of North America, musical nota-
tions of the songs of fifteen different species of warblers.

Dr. L. H. Ross of Bennington reports the nesting of
the rough-winged swallow. He reports also that the king-
fisher remains the year around in that vicinity.

Another winter robin has been reported, this time at
Proctor, by W. A. Kent.

A member, twelve years old, of the local bird club at
Newbury has listed and identified seventy-four different

32 BULLETIN 2

species of birds during 1906. This is an excellent example
and incentive for others. The question arises: How many
children of twelve years or older in Vermont are able to
name and indentify seventy different kinds of birds?

A member writes: I spent last summer in northern
Vermont where the large blue herons were unusually
abundant. They were ruthlessly shot by farmers and

iid either left where where they fell or thrown away
after being exhibited as proofs of skill. When asked why
they killed the birds, the reply usually was “O nothing!
only just to say I’d shot one.”

Mr. C. H. Evans of Townshend reports observing the
water thrush on May 17, 1905.

Mr. R. G. Brock of Wells River sends the following
notes.

A nest of the red bellied nuthatch was found May 5,
1886 in Scott’s grove in a poplar stub about 25 feet from
the ground. Cavity about eight inches deep, lined at the
bottom with fibrous bark and a few hairs and feathers.
There were five fresh eggs. At the entrance was some
pine pitch which must have been put there by the birds,
but whether for a purpose, or tracked in, I do not know.
Has anyone else noticed pitch at the entrance of the
nuthatch’s nest?

Prairie ftorned larks were found at Rygate in I9goc
Nest on ground in a ploughed field (all that I have ever |
seen have been on ploughed land) There was a slight cavity
with a few straws and lined with cow hair, and some dow-
ny material. There were four eggs, color a dirty white,
thickly and evenly marked with very fine drab, making
them look gray. Since that year they have continued and
nest on the farm each year, and on some of the adjoining
farms. Till last year there were about half a dozen pairs
in the neighborhood. Mr. G. H. Ross of Rutland has
found a number of nests ot this species, all ot which were
located on grass land.

Mr, S. O. Brush of Burlington writes thus:

For the last ten years I had heard that every fall swal-
lows congregated in great numbers on Cedar Island, a
small island near the Sand Bar bridge in Milton, and late in
August 1905 I visited the island. Cedar island is about 3
acres in extent and is heavily wooded with cedar and in
the summer is a camping ground for a party of Boston
people. I reached the spot late in the afternoon. In the air
swallows were hurrying toward the island in countless
numbers from every point of the compass as far as the eye

VERMONT BIRD CLUB 33

could reach. When they reached the island instead of
alighting they circled and wheeled high in the air until the
sky above was literaly swarming with them. As night
came on with ceaseless chirpings and twitterings they set-
tled down to rest in the cedars. With the aid of a lantern
we made a tour of the island that night and found the birds
perched in the cedars in countless numbers everywhere,
some roosted so low that blinded by the light we could
capture and examine them. We found them to be the com-
mon bank swallow and as far as my observation I
saw no other variety. We would beat on the tree trunk
with a stick and such a hubbub would ensue as the startled
birds took wing only to settle down again when all was
quiet. At day break by ones or twos and in small flocks,
they scattered in all directions, to return again as the day
waned. People who have long observed the birds tell me
that they begin to congregate on the island about the mid-
dle of August and leave about September Ist, all departing
at the same time. It would be impossible to estimate the
number of birds that congregate there and no one who has
not seen them there can give an idea of the enormous hosts
meeting before their annual departure for the Southland.

Mrs. Nelly Hart Woodworth of St. Albans contributes
the following observations :

A steel fox-trap weighing five pounds, and marked with
the owner’s name, was found, two days after it was set, in
a distant part of the town. Attached by one leg to the trap
was a great Horned Owl (bubo virginianus). Though the
bird had flown four miles carrying the heavy trap, it was in
good fighting condition when found. Another trap set in
the same month—November—upon the top of the house,
caught a snowy owl.

Upon Nov. 12th, 1906, a sportsman from Enosburg
Falls brought me a large handsome gull which he could not
identify. It proved to be a Kittiwake in finest plumage,
not a feather of which was soiled or ruffled. The bird,
which was mounted and is now in the hunter’s possession,
had been seen for several days flying over the mill-pond at
Enosburg Falls. If there was a doubt before as to includ-
ing the Kittiwake in the list of Vermont birds this re-
moves it, though the bird has, to my certain knowledge,
been taken before at St. Albans Bay,

Several years ago, while living at East Berkshire, I saw
white crowned sparrows carryingaway bits of dry grass and
“excelsior” that, used for packing, was scattered about the

34 BULLETIN 2

yard. As they flew with it directly across the Missisquoi
River, the nest they were building could not be found. The
next year they came again and were easily traced in build-
ing time to an apple tree in which, four or five feet from the
ground, they had built a nest. It was a bulky affair, alto-
gether larger than they needed, I thought, though they
seemed to regard it otherwise. As the first egg was laid |
a wicked old cat sprang upon the sitting bird who escaped
fortunately, but the nest was brought to the ground and
torn in the struggle. The birds were. watched carefully
but did not rebuild to my knowledge. Though: these ele-
gant sparrows are with us in large numbers for two or
three weeks every spring, there has been no evidence since
then of their nesting here. So far as I know, the instances
given above are the second record of white crowned spar-
rows nesting in Vermont. A single bird of this species
found upon Mt. Mansfield in July, 1906, might easily be
taken for circumstantial evidence in the same direction.

While at Shanty Point. Lake Champlain, last July, I
Was amazed at the number of red headed woodpeckers that
were everywhere present. Two or three were often seen
at one time upon a single tree near the cottage and their
loud call-notes were constant and emphatic. As this bird
is called “rare” in Vermont its abundance here was more
noticeable. I saw over a hundred of these beautiful birds
during the week that I was there. Red bellied nuthatches,
too, were common, with Nashville warblers, swamp spar-
rows, and water thrushes, while the bald eagle came sev-
eral times daily to his perch upon a dead tree near the
shore. Once it flew away over the lake with a calf’s leg
which it took from a barnyard. Early every morning the
eagle was at “The Point” feeding upon dead fish cast upon
the lake shore. This pair of birds were said to be reg-
ular occupants of one of the islands where they had bred
for many years.

The strenuous winter just past furnished a happy com-
pensation in the close companionship of birds, once lured
within speaking distance, soon became intimate friends of
the household. This was brought about early in the sea-
son by fastening a wooden box to my window sill, in
which English walnuts, crumbs, and suet were an adver-
tisement of meals at all hours, a free lunch counter that was
well patronized. Chickadees and nuthatches were first to
note its kindly possibilities, then a pair of blue jays joined
the circle to which downy woodpeckers shortly sent in an

VERMONT BIRD CLUB 35

application. English sparrows were so _ persistently
“shooed” away that their attendance was limited to the
hours when the chamber was empty. One January morn-
ing I opened the window to refill the bird’s table and, with
pieces of suet in my hand, reached inside for a hammer with
with which to nail them down. This was done to evade
the sparrows who carried the suet away to devour at their
leisure in the hedge beyond my jurisdiction. As I turned
for the hammer a chickadeecame rushing down, alighting in
my hand and eating the suet. After this informal intro-
duction, so mutually agreeable, whenever the chickadees
were about I had but to open my window and they ate
from my hand with winning confidence. Then walnuts
were placed upon the sill inside which were at once appro-
priated, the birds coming fearlessly into my room, hopping
about me as I sat by the window, coming to my desk, to
picture frames, chairs, and table. The birds were photo-
graphed in the room, but the pictures were poor owing to
the imperfect light. This chickadee friendship remained
close and constant until well into March when a change
was apparent. They came less frequently, and with an
indifferent, I-never-knew-you air that was most humiliat-
ing. Nuthatches stayed on, coming inside at all hours,
and eating the bits of walnuts that the wind had blown
from the window sill to the floor, before exploring the
room and trying on its various perching places. Later on
bluebirds and juncos came to my table, making in all

seven species of birds that were my guests during the win-
ten,

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Vermont Bird Club :

BULLETIN NO. 3

MAY, 1908.

ene eee ee

PUBLISHED ANNUALLY

BY THE CLUB

Ps a, if
aad ees Bae
i fake.
.s i 1 oe é

Sn Yee er Sip:

ree Oe
o

Vermont Bird Club

BULLETIN NO. 3

MAY, 1908

PUBLISHED ANNUALLY

BY THE CLUB

BURLINGTON:
FREE PRESS PRINTING Co.,
1908.

OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES FOR 1908.

IPPESTGOM Goes co. ic Sls Os, 5 Ee ree Prof. G. H. Perkins, Burlington.
WiGe=President.; «24. oon ee ee OC eee ee G. H. Ross, Rutland.
Sechetary,and | reasut eh tire Carlton D. Howe, Essex Junction.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

Prof. (Fi We MOtCy Sos Perea. Sreteiciess Oks a ae eee eee Burlington.
EB (Be Davenport ic ancenec ete Oe ass role el eee Brattleboro.
Carlton? (Di HOWe= sc 4 oveies ales eee tee Gee Essex Junction.
Wirss Wie Re JONES Hs 522s: sree oe cadena hee Oe Oe Rone ee Burlington.
Miss, Deliav i. (Grifim —<.. cater toe ho eee eters St. Johnsbury.

PUBLICATION COMMITTEE,

Mrs. E. B. Davenport, G. H. Ross, Rutland,
Carlton D. Howe.

One copy of this Bulletin is sent to each member of the Club. Ad-
ditional copies may be secured at ten cents each. Orders for these and
other communications relative to the Bulletin should be addressed to
Carlton D. Howe, Secretary Vermont Bird Club, Essex Junction, Vt.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

PAGE
MniCersmancme COMMILICES. cide ceteeG... bans Socios aeons eee ee. 2
paumnraeteindsof Mt; Mansfield! 2. .22..5 cict 0s. gence sees e 5
Experience with Purple Martins in Brattleboro .................. 3
Nanterre SATE. ine WaANGERS «2S ctes.0e crue checce «.toeeign.al tele = ns Sele iene 15
NEST etO tr IN COS? Law TALELEDOLOr «sve ss so, esis cootenap eee als aga wos cseva cee af
INotes?on the sw hite, Hyed. Vire0s) a4.) osc. G6 i Seda ae ws stomiong ie « 18
Creat aGrestedmlt | veateCherSeiNeCStie sls Se05.b.s chines sus helene Chetan os eee 19
IMIGACO Wav: IMC RVWATCOD © faciei a BSc Abs, hla < WGlSe ads Sees a oes ¢ 20
Goldensbacie-ineRutiandy County -i.4-525< ae. Sek kd © Seaciesy anesiebe are 20
ives CU BEG DIS mis setts ees! syd ac cadibe-dyvens Biers ocitetgus Gretela esheets: a's Acer ans 21
SO raya O tera: Es ITS LT Clee ATI yi yh ee a secterrelr ceils tal Sree eyo chav as ai's) Nels atersaceiters es 24
Report of the General Work of the National Association of Audubon
SOVIETS Geb iG CO CLO ORCI ERS OE CRIES PTCHO ls 0 CEE eI Re eee 26
Birdweaisteok sbravtleHporowand sVIGINItYy yc% ee. 2 slaete tls 4) eee rere 29
rdelaiStpOrseC uu ands amid): Vicinity = a. ic Rieceeeiecfsts dreuws ithe Seeks elepon che 30
BindeuistnotsstedOhnsSbuLy anda WiGiIntty acer: se «c\crecie © heehee 31
EEC MMINOUCS Lee Attala arA Ris cust steer astals, Pepete, op cccccie d oengoaualaveteth spot ate mie 32
PN GwarPVLGTMGNS) Be Sov apcas) sy sess lass teres cra veuntcists. chem mh svemmanehess seathihe eae 33
PRLS MAVUALTNE OT PIMC OUI ws gore waite ce Mey, oho) aw sevaraltos cbse Nehioobcirals terte yatta, oneness hatreds 35
PRN ee OUIIMIMeTE MeCCTIN Sm 5...<4 spats bres sis 2.5 Sores SUS ENS see sass « Shiva aay leysy cates 35

NC MING Mis UII SP) MCCUE acces: 5, acho ds Zyetetepehe seers oils ayeliebsgaws wie) e TelSe. CoO

SUMMER BIRDS OF MT. MANSFIELD AND REGION ADJACENT
TO THE BASE OF THE MOUNTAIN.

(Abstract).
Mrs. EvizAserH B. Davenport, Brattleboro, Vt.

Since the days of Pursch the Mansfield region has been one of
much interest to the botanist, but the first recorded study of the bird
life appeared in the Awk, Oct., 1901, giving the results of Mr. Arthur H.
Howell’s observations made in 1899 and 1900.

Mr. Bradford Torrey published in 1895 his delightful chapter, “Five
days on Mt. Mansfield,” in The Footpath Way, which gave most in-
teresting notes on the bird life.

The present paper is compiled from notes of 1902-04-05-06. My
time was spent in the first named year partly on the summit and
partly on the plateau at base of the Mt. that I might have freer
access to the notches and slopes. This plan was followed in succeeding
years, though less time was given to the territory above timber limit,
and more to adjacent country, observations being made in Stowe
Valley, Elmore Mt. to the east of Stowe Valley, Lake Mansfield region,
and the notches and peaks south of Mansfield.

Mt. Mansfield appears as a long range of four peaks, in lat. 44° 28’,
about that of Mt. Washington. The altitude of Stowe Village is 584
feet. Timber limit on the mountain estimated about 3,000 feet and
the altitude of the Chin almost 5,000 feet.

The bulk of the mountain lies nearly north and south, sweeping
up grandly from the valley on the western side, its base both there and
on the east defining far reaching curves, whose steep sides are covered
with forest on their lower slopes, and whose massive rugged cliffs lift
themselves by sharp ascents to the great crest of the mountain.

Approaching from the Stowe side the ascent from the valley begins
at the foot of a spur thrown out toward the east, the road winding
along its sides, and crossing to the main ridge as the summit is neared.
Here for the first time the whole sweep of the mountain top bursts on
the view, the flowing outline crowned by the majesty of the Chin as
it towers over Smugglers’ Notch. A mile and a half of wind swept
summit stretches away to this point, sometimes only-a narrowing mass
- of weather worn rock above the precipitous descents, sometimes
widening out and making boggy hollows which shelter a few stunted
trees among the gigantic rock masses which lie in imposing wreck.

6 BULLETIN No. 3

Here in the June days water was oozing and dripping and flowing
everywhere among the moss covered rocks. Delicate fronds were
answering to the spring time call. White violets lay like snow on the
rich green beds, and Clintonias grew tall, swaying their delicate blooms
under the spruces, where Black-poll Warblers and Bicknell Thrushes
emphasized the fact that we were come into a new land.

The spur of the mountain, above alluded to, widens out at its
base below the forest, forming a plateau, two streams uniting at its
foot to form the West Branch. These streams are called North and
South Branches and drain the mountain sides, the North Branch
having its birth in a wonderful spring which bursts from the heart
of Stirling Mt. and comes down from Smugglers’ Notch.

The forest is mainly red spruce (Picea rubra), balsam fir (Abies
balsamea), hemlock (Tsuga Canadensis), yellow birch (Betula lutea),
beech (Fagus Americana) and sugar maple (Acer saccharum). The
undergrowth is that common to Vermont forest, and where the virgin
forest has been disturbed is especially dense.

During the drouth of 1903 forest fires raged on the slopes of
Mansfield, mainly south of the Nose. Doubtless many young birds
perished, and the food supply must have been somewhat affected in the
succeeding year. In 1904 there seemed fewer Whitethroats and
Juncos. In 1906 I thought the birds were there in their previous
numbers.

In all my years of wandering afoot over Vermont I have failed
to find another place which yields so much of inspiring splendid
mountain scenery of varied character, so much of rare beauty and
interest in its flora, and such opportunity for study of bird life at
close range.

BIRDS OF MANSFIELD REGION.

1. Actitis macularia, Spotted Sandpiper. North Branch and down
the Valley.

2. Bonasa wmbellus togata, Canadian Ruffed Grouse. Flushed
many broods on the lower slopes of the mountain. Drumming heard
almost daily through June and July.

3. Accipiter velox, Sharp-shinned Hawk. Occasional, usually
about the Summit.

4. Buteo borealis, Red-tailed Hawk. Common.

5. Falco peregrinus anatum. Duck Hawk. Breeding.

6. Falco sparverius, Sparrow Hawk. About base of the moun-
tain.

VERMONT Birp CLupB 7

7. Coccyzus Americanus, Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Occasionally found
about approaches to Notch road.

8. Ceryle alcyon, Belted Kingfisher. Along the Branch Brooks.

9. Dryobates villosus, Hairy Woodpecker. Not numerous. Un-
derhill slopes gave most records.

10. Dryobates pubescens medianus, Downy Woodpecker. Com-
mon in lower valleys and mountain slopes.

11. Picoides articus, Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker. Underhill
Notch, Smugglers’ Notch and Joe’s Pond.

12. Sphyrapicus varius, Yellow-bellied Sap Sucker. Common in
deciduous woods.

13. Chetura pelagica, Chimney Swift. Common in the Valley.
Often seen flying over the Summit.

14. Trochilus colubris, Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Frequent
at base of mountain.

15. Tyranus tyranus. Kingbird. Occasional to base ofm moun-
tain.

16. Myiarchus crinitus, Great-crested Fly-catcher. Common about
Mr. Harlow’s, especially at lower end of North Branch.

17. Sayornis phebe, Phoebe. Nesting about all buildings to Half-
way House.

18. Nuttallornis borealis, Olive-sided Flycatcher. Common about
all swampy areas to base of mountain.

19. EHmpidonax flaviventris, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. Two pairs
located near forest limit in 1902. Later years gave this same record.
Also on Underhill slope.

20. Empidonaz traillii alnorum, Alder Flycatcher, Along all the
brooks and in the Swampy upland pastures.

21. Empidonaxz minimus, Least Flycatcher. Well up the moun-
tain side. More abundant on Underhill slopes.

22. Otocoris alpestris praticola, Prairie Horned Lark. Mrs.
Herbert E. Straw first reported these birds in Stowe Valley in 1898.
Mr. Howell found them at same station, and reported twenty-five or
more in 1901. In 1902 these birds were about the same hill and
fields. June 30th, several were on the sloping meadows toward Morris-
town.

23. COyanocitta cristata, Blue Jay. Not abundant. Usually in
the Valley. Occasional to the Summit.

24. Perisorius canadensis, Canada Jay. Rare, when found, well
toward Summit.

25. Corvus brachyrhynchos, Crow. Common below mountain base.

8 BULLETIN No. 3

26. Dolichonyxz oryzivorus, Bobolink. Distributed over all the
meadows to foot of mountain. In song July 8th, and about the orchards
till July 29th.

27. Molothrus ater, Cowbird. Occasional.

28. Agelaius phaniceus, Red-winged Blackbird. A few in the
meadows below the Forks. More abundant about Lake Mansfield
region. i

29. Icterus galbula, Baltimore Oriole. Not nesting above the
junction of the Branches, but young were brought. to the orchard
about Mr. Harlow’s.

30. Carpodacus purpureus, Purple Finch. Numerous about the
foot of the mountain and Mr. Harlow’s. In full song all through the
season. Often eating dandelion seed.

31. Loxia curvirostra minor, American Crossbill. In flocks and in
pairs about the plateau all summer. About the base of the mountain
and almost at the summit. Frequently feeding on the ground, eating
grass seed and dandelion seed.

32. Lowxia leucoptera, White-winged Crossbill. None listed in 1902.
1904, occasional near the Summit and in full song in June. Same
location 1906.

33. Astragalinus tristis, American Goldfinch. Abundant in the
valley to the forest.

34. Spinus pinus. Pine Siskin. Frequently found in flocks about
the Summit.

35. Powcetes gramineus, Vesper Sparrow. Abundant in the val-
ley and upland meadows. Young left nest June 8th, 1904.

36. Passerculus sandwichensis savanna. Savanna Sparrow. Dis-
tributed abundantly on the plateau. A few pairs in the meadows below
the Forks.

37. Zonotrichia albicollis; Whitethroated Sparrow. Along the
North Branch. Not on the mountain till well toward Summit, then in-
creasing in numbers. One of the most abundant birds about Summit
House. In full song through July though not so many individuals
singing as in June. June 23rd earliest record of young out of nest.
Some birds showed interesting individual phrasing of the typical song,
which was maintained through the season. Through June song from
dawn till 10 P. M.

38. Spizella socialis, Chipping Sparrow. Abundant in lower val-
ley, but rare on plateau. :

39. Spizella pusilla, Field Sparrow. One found 1902, and again in
1904. Mrs. Straw does not find this bird in Stowe Valley. My records
were both July, and I do not think they were nesting. Shrubby pas-

VERMONT Birp CLUB 9

tures with blueberries usually shelter the Field Sparrow, and no blue-
berries are about the base of the mountain.

40. Junco hyemalis, Junco. Ranging with the White-throats, but
extending into the Notches. Along the whole Summit of the Ridge.
Very familiar about the hotel, coming to the piazza for crumbs and
feeding their young all about the buildings.

41. Melospiza cinerea melodia, Song Sparrow. Most abundant
bird on the plateau and in the valley.

42. Passer domesticus, English Sparrow. In 1906 not above the
Stowe Valley.

43. Pipilo erythrophthalmus, Chewink. No records in 1902. One
pair in shrubby pasture at mountain base in 1904-05-06.

44. Zamelodia ludoviciana, Rose-breasted Grosbeak. On the pla-
teau, along the Branches and in the open woods of the lower slopes.
Found once at limit of yellow birches and several records at Half-way
House. Old birds brought young to potato fields and fed them beetles.

45. Cyanospiza cyanea, Indigo Bunting. Common below plateau;
less so at foot of mountain.

46. Piranga erythromelas, Scarlet Tanager. About the clearings
on lower slopes of the mountain. In the Notches and on the hills
along the valley.

47. Petrochelidon lunifrous, Cliff Swallow. To the base of the
mountain.

48. Hirundo erythrogaster, Barn Swallow. More numerous than
Cliff Swallow.

49. Riparia riparia, Bank Swallow. Common in suitable environ-
ment.

50. Ampelis cedorum, Cedar Waxwing. To the edge of forest all
summer.

51. Vireo olivaceus, Red-eyed Vireo. Abundant on lower slopes
and below. Occasional almost to timber limit.

52. Vireo gilvus, Warbling Vireo. Rare in the valley, and not
found above that point.

53. Vireo solitarius, Solitary Vireo. Occasional on all lower
slopes where hemlocks were still standing.

04. Mniotilta varia, Black and White Warbler. Common on lower
slopes and on the plateau.

55. Helminthophila rubricapilla, Nashville Warbler. Abounding
from foot of plateau to timber limit. Singing on Mt. till July 28.

56. Compsothlypis Americana usnea, Northern Parula Warbler.
Most abundant in the Notches, but well distributed in all the Mt.
region.

10 BULLETIN No. 3

57. Dendroica estiva, wstiva, Yellow Warbler. None above foot
of plateau.

58. Dendroica carulescens caerulescens, Black-throated Blue
Warbler. Common about lower slopes of Mt. Young out of the nest
June 30, and with old birds in orchards July 6.

59. Dendroica coronata, Yellow-rumped Warbler. Found as low
as the “S” bend. Abundant about Summit. Had a pretty habit of
poising on the wing along the edges of the roofs of the hotel and barn,
to pick out spiders from under the eaves, the outspread wings and
hovering motion showing the rich coloring of the males.

60. Dendroica maculosa, Magnolia Warbler. Always among the
young spruces and firs in the pastures. Almost to timber limit.

61. Dendroica pensylvania, Chestnut-sided Warbler. In all clear-
ings almost to timber limit. Found no young earlier than July 8th.

62. Dendroica striata, Black-poll Warbler. Abundant in stunted
conifers from 3,000 ft. altitude to summit. Found no young till late in
July. Old birds kept well in cover.

63 Dendroica Blackburnie, Blackburnian Warbler. Common on
Branches and ranging with the hemlocks, but almost invariably feed-
ing in the deciduous trees.

64. Dendroica virens, Black-throated Green Warbler. Common,
but distributed with the hemlocks.

65. Seiurus aurocapillus, Oven Bird. Common wherever open
deciduous woods were found. Flight song all through June. One
bird sang every evening after June 11th.

* Seiurus noveboracensis, Northern Water Thrush. Listed but
once, on North Branch. Carrying building material in bill.

66. Geothlypis philadelphia, Mourning Warbler. In 1902 not com-
mon. In later years more frequently found. Nested in thickets at
edge of forest, especially where berry bushes had sprung up.

67. Geothlypis trichas brachidactyla, Northern Yellow-throat.
Abundant about streams below plateau.

68. Wilsonia canadensis, Canadian Warbler. Common about the
overgrown abandoned timber clearings.

69. Setophaga \ruticilla, Redstart. Not abundant about plateau.
In second growth timber along the Branches.

70. Galeoscoptes carolinensis, Catbird. Common below forks. To
edge of mountain forest in bushy pasture.

71. Troglodytes aédon, House Wren. In Stowe Valley. Rare.

72. Olbiorchilus hiemalis, Winter Wren. From foot of plateau to
mountain Summit. Until June 18th song with little intermission from
dawn, 9 P. M. Still in song July 28th. Heard in the deep forest

VERMONT BirpD CLUB iat

among the moss covered tree trunks about whose prostrate forms
spinulose ferns clustered, and water filtered and dripped and lay in
tiny pools about the great rocks. Heard in the closing hours of the
day, when the silvery notes fell on the air as the glowing tints of
sunset faded from the sky and mountain top, and purpling shadows
folded in the magnificent rocky ramparts of the long swelling ridge.

73. Certhia familiaris Americana, Brown Creeper. Rarely listed.

74. Sitta carolinensis, White-breasted Nuthatch. Not common.

75. Sitta canadensis, Red-breasted Nuthatch. In 1902 only three
records, two of these on S. Branch. Never common.

76. Parus atricapillus, Chickadee. Not very abundant but very
generally distributed wherever hemlocks were found.

77. Regulus satrapa, Golden-crowned Kinglet. In 1902 only found
in hemlocks at base of mountain. Later years found them breeding
in various places on the slopes.

78. Hylocichla mustelina, Wood Thrush. Mr. Howell’s record
is, “I think there were two pairs nesting there in 1899,” “heard the
song and alarm notes several times in damp maple woods at base.”
“In 1900 could find no trace of them, nor have they been observed by
Mrs. Straw in Stowe Valley.”

In 1902 I thought I heard the song in the direction of the above
named woods, but the distance was too great to get the entire song
and it was not repeated. Search failed to discover them.

In 1904 three pairs were located. One quite near Mr. Harlow’s,
south of the house. After ten days this pair disappeared. ‘l'wo pairs
remained through the season on the lower slope of the mountain toward
the Notch. In 1905 two pairs again in same location. In 1906 same
record in this stretch of forest. Second week in July nest was found
with four full fledged young.

79. Hylocichla fuscescens, Wilson’s Thrush. In 1902 no record
above plateau, but on S. Branch a most interesting nest found June 8th
with four typical Wilson eggs. Nest in a group of six young maple
sprouts growing so close that fallen twigs and leaves had lodged,
giving bulky platform 18 inches from ground. Nest well sunk in the
leaves, thick walled and deeply cupped, of moss, lined with fine root fibres
and grass. The moss was a Polytrichium, the plants laid close to-
gether, the root ends beautifully curved at the bottom, and the capsules
crowded together at the rim and overlapped by the blanched leaves
of the beech. The bird was not typical Wilson. No warm tint any-
where. Back, wings, tail, rump, just the soft gray of the young maple
bark, throat matched perfectly the blanched beech leaves over which it
was lifted. Breast and sides creamy, streaks running to the bill. Throat

12 BULLETIN No. 3

unstreaked. Eye ring and lores white, the latter strongly marked.
Call and alarm notes those of Wilson. Observed bird and nest for three
consecutive hours daily, for three days. Bird never objected to my
presence. Remained within 6 feet of her. Eggs hatched June 10th.
Later years recorded many birds in Notch approaches.

80. Hylocichla alicie bicknelli, Bicknell’s Thrush. Abundant on
the whole mountain crest wherever the swampy ground gave cover
of dwarfed spruce and fir. In 1904, singing May 25th though not full
and clear. Snow drifts three feet deep under the ledges. June 12th
nest located in spruce, four eggs. Birds shy of near approach till
young were out, then came about the house and barn feeding on the
ground. Occasionally during the season of incubating they would be
seen running on the bald ridge feeding at the edges of the bogs,
slipping into the dense scrub if too nearly approached. The calls
and alarm notes resemble those of other Thrushes, but are easily dis-
tinguishable. The “wheu’” is thinner than that of the Wilson. The
“cluck” is a common note, as also the one resembling the Nighthawk.
The usual phrasing of the song was weé 4 weé 4 we we chi chi wea wea,
the che che thin and high with the vibrant quality of the Wilson but
without change of pitch. The last two notes unaccented seeming only
an interlude between repetitions of the vibrant notes. They sang
from earliest dawn till 9 P. M. during June till about the 20th, then
song decreased but still singing July 29th.

81. Hylocichla ustulata swainsoni, Swainson’s Thrush. Abundant
on the Notch Branches and lower slopes, extending well up to timber
limit but in decreasing numbers. More shy than Bicknell’s. Young
almost full grown on mountain July 19th.

82. Hylocichla gustata palassii, Hermit Thrush. Well distributed
on slopes with southern exposure. In 1902 heard only once on Summit.
1904, two were nesting well up the slopes and could be heard from the
ridges near the Summit. 1905-06, gave practically same record.

Thus within a territory covering altitude from 1,000 feet to 4,500
feet and along a road less than five miles in length could be heard all
five N. E. Thrushes. Wood Thrush, Wilson’s, Swainson’s and Hermit
sang together on lower slopes. Ascending we left the Wood and
Wilson’s, and to Summit had Bicknell’s Swainson’s and Hermit. I
have not duplicated this experience.

83. Merula migratoria, American Robin. Abundant at base of
mountain. A pair nested near Summit House, 1902, and on the slopes
near the base, but in the forest in 1904-05-06.

84. Sialia sialis, Blue Bird. Common to base of mountain, and
nesting to entrance to the forest.

VERMONT BirRD CLUB 13

EXPERIENCE WITH PURPLE MARTINS IN BRATTLEBORO.
W. C. Horton.

About twenty-five years ago, there were several colonies of purple
Martins, Progne subis, in Brattleboro. The troublesome English spar-
rows became so plentiful and occupied the martin houses so early in
the spring that the martins were driven out of all their homes except
but one. This house was taken down by the owner as he became
entirely out of patience in trying to keep out the English sparrows. I
purchased the house and moved it to my home about a half mile away.
I painted and fixed up the house, which had twenty-eight tenements,
and named it “The Castle.” I put it up on a pole April 29, 1899. May
1st the martins came and occupied it at once. The English sparrows
came also but I began shooting them as fast as they came. I kept
this up until the martins began to incubate, then the sparrows did not
trouble them very much as the martins occupied nearly all the tene-
ments. From that time on every year until June, 1903, I was obliged
to fight the Englisn sparrows by shooting them in order to. protect my
colony of martins. The martins seemed to know that the shooting was
not to frighten them. On the average we had about 35 to 40 martins
coming every spring about the first of May. When they were ready to
migrate to the sunny south in August, young and old numbered about
eighty birds.

In June, 1903, came that cold and chilly rain of two weeks’ duration
which was disastrous to all insectivorous birds, all insects being so
benumbed with cold that they could not fly. Then the parent martins
could not get food for their young or even for themselves. I found
thirty young and several old martins dead in the nests of the Castle
and 12 eggs not hatched. What birds remained alive deserted the
Castle for the rest of the year. This was a great disappointment to
me. The next spring I watched for the remaining martins to return
to the Castle. One morning the welcome note of the martin was heard.
Three male martins were on the Castle. They stayed about a week
or more waiting for their mates to come. Every year the male martins
came first and the females later by one or two weeks. In the course
of a week three female martins came but acted frightened when they
looked into the empty tenements of the Castle. They seemed to remem-
ber the horrors of their disaster the year before. They did not light
on the Castle at all. The male birds apparently tried to persuade them
to stay but they would not and flew away, never to return. The male
birds, after waiting a week or more in the Castle flew away and they
too did not return to stay. I saw the martins several times that sum-

14 BULLETIN No. 3

mer, flying high above the Castle but they did not venture to light
upon it.

The year after this disaster with martins, one pair of tree
swallows came to the Castle and took up their abode there. They
raised a nice family of tree swallows. Two families of tree swallows
have occupied the Castle every year since.

Last winter I made up my mind to try the experiment of hatching
purple martins eggs under the tree swallows to again establish my
colony of martins. I wrote J. Warren Jacobs, ornithologist and
oologist, of Waynesburg, Pa., (who has one of the largest colonies of
purple martins in the United States) to see if he could furnish me with
a few eggs for the experiment. Through his kindness he sent me four
eggs.

The experiment was tried under very favorable circumstances, as.
the tree swallows were occupying my old purple martin house and had
been for three years. The story of the experiment is best told in the
following extracts from my daily note book:

“May 31, receive four purple martin’s eggs from J. Warren Jacobs,
Waynesburg, Pa. June 1, I find six tree swallow eggs in a nest, remove
four eggs and place the four martin eggs in nest. June 6, I remove
the other two tree swallow eggs, leaving the four martin eggs in the
nest only. Swallow sitting on eggs nicely. June 11, swallow sitting
on eggs O. K. June 15, eggs not hatched. June 16, 7 A. M., find one
egg hatched; 6 P. M., find two more eggs hatched. June 17, 7 A. M., I find
the other egg hatched. Young martins doing well. Foster parents
feeding young martins as though they were their own. June 19,
visit the young martins this morning, find them doing well. June
22, visit martins this morning, find them growing and looking finely.
Eyes not open yet and not a feather started. Foster parents feeding
them nicely. June 24, visit young martins this morning and find them
progressing finely. Feathers begin to show under the skin. Eyes just
beginning to open a little. Foster parents are caring for them nicely.
June 25, I find martins eyes about one-third open. Feathers just
begin to show through-skin. Young birds cared for finely. June 26,
this morning I find the young martins’ eyes open; feathers well started
through skin; tail feathers show quite a little. All doing finely and
all plump and fat. Foster parents giving them the best of care.
June 29, 7 A. M., a visit to the martin house. I find not a young martin
in the nest; find one on the ground under the house. From the appear-
ance of the young birds should say it had been dead two or three
days. Could not find the other three. What caused the disaster I
cannot conceive unless the foster parents found out that they were not

VERMONT BirRD CLUB 15

of cuheir family and pulled them from the nest, leaving them to die.
This ends my first experience in trying to establish my purple martin
colony.”

Since then, from knowledge gained, I am led: to believe that the
English sparrows were the cause of the disaster. Instances have come
to my attention where the English sparrows have pulled nestling
birds of other species out of bird houses and I have little doubt that
they did so in this case.

Next spring I intend to try another experiment, hoping for better
success.

THE NORTHERN SHRIKE IN WINTER.
Miss Marion Bore, West Barnet, Vt.

As far as my observations go the Northern Shrike, Lanius borealis,
does not nest in this vicinity but it is a frequent visitor in spring and
fall and occasionally remains during the winter. Naturally it is not
a bird that makes itself conspicuous and were it not for the fact that it
too often attaches itself to my bird family I should probably see it
very seldom.

The chickadees are usually the first to sound the alarm and as I
have learned to interpret some of their signals, I always go to the
rescue. Often the cause of alarm is a strange cat, but if I find the
birds remaining motionless or hiding I feel sure that they have dis-
covered a hawk or a shrike.

When the alarm is given they hide if there is any convenient cover,
if not they remain perfectly motionless, occasionally uttering a fright-
ened little cheep, cheep. I have known them to remain in one posi-
tion for half an hour, the only movement I could detect was the winking
of the eye which I have noticed is always a sign of fear in the chick-
adee. It is surprising to see how difficult it is to discover the birds
when they take that position. The nuthatch, especially, has a way of
flattening itself against the tree, head downward that gives it very
much the appearance of a knot in the tree.

One day recently when I heard the alarm I could only discover two
chickadees, one in the tree giving the alarm and another on the bird
table holding a piece of doughnut in its bill. They remained in that
position fifteen or twenty minutes till the bird in the tree commenced
to sing chick-a-dee-dee which evidently indicated that the danger was
over for the bird on the table at once commenced to eat the doughnut
it had been holding so long and at the same time two birds appeared
from under a rose bush near the house, several more from a balsam

16 ; BULLETIN No. 3

tree and two or three which I had not discovered in the maple com-
menced to move about. There were eight or nine birds where I had
only discovered two.

Sometimes the alarm has been given while a bird was on my hand
and it would at once take the same rigid attitude as the birds on the
tree and remain there, often much to my inconvenience.

Sometimes the alarm proves to be a false one. A jay in the
distance is often mistaken for a shrike but the mistake is soon dis-
covered. As soon as the danger is over the birds usually all join in
a chorus of chick-a-dee-dees. In my ignorance I used to think, when
I heard the chickadees all singing together in that way, that they were
feeling particularly happy but have since come to the conclusion that
it is more often a sign of distress or at least of excitement. I always
investigate when I hear an unusual amount of singing.

At one time when I heard the birds singing in that excited manner
I found that a shrike had just caught a bird and was in the act of kill-
ing it and a few days since when I responded to the same signal -of
distress I found a shrike in the tree watching two chickadees which
were singing chick-a-dee-dee with all their might. There was no hiding
this time, they were in constant motion always keeping above the
shrike, neither did they make any attempt to fly away. Evidently
they considered it safer to remain where they were and try to keep out
of his way. They were probably right, for after watching them for
a while he seemed to give it up and flew away.

Three times I have seen the shrike with a bird which it had cap-
tured and in each instance, although not near enough to positively
identify the bird, I have judged, from the feathers that I found in
the snow, that the victim was a sparrow. While I have not actually
seen the shrike catch other birds I feel sure that it does so because
of the decrease in my bird family that always follows its advent.

This year I first saw a‘shrike Nov. 29. At that time my family
consisted of a large number of chickadees, including several tame
birds, doubtless some of my pets of last year, three juncos and a lot of
English sparrows. The day that I first saw the shrike, one of my
juncos disappeared, the next day another was missing and the third
day the last one disappeared. Had they all gone at once I might have
thought they had left for fear of the shrike or had decided to go farther
south, although that seemed unlikely as it was so late in the season
and they had been boarding with me for some time.

A song sparrow, which found its way to my table later on, also
disappeared.

VERMONT BirD CLUB 17

I still have some chickadees left but they are considerably re-
duced in number. I have lost every one of my tame birds and have
not the heart to tame any more while the murderous creature is about.

The English sparrow seems to have a perfect terror of the shrike
and they usually leave in a body as soon as one appears. After the
departure of the sparrows is the first indication I have of the presence
of the shrike. Sometimes they remain away all winter. This year
they were gone for more than a month and have now returned not much
reduced in number.

If the sparrows have an alarm signal I have never been able to
discover it but they evidently have no difficulty in interpreting the
chickadee signal and exhibit the greatest terror when they hear it.

I have not seen a nuthatch this winter and I have an idea that
the nuthatch, perhaps, suffers more from the shrike than almost any
other bird. I have no positive evidence to that effect but it has in-
variably happened that whenever a shrike has joined my bird family,
I have lost every nuthatch. I can readily understand that the nut-
hatch would be particularly helpless in the presence of a shrike if
once discovered for the nuthatch is a very slow motioned bird and not
nearly so alert and wide awake as the chickadee. The sparrow’s policy
of running away seems to be a wise one but I have seen no evidence
of any such tendency in either the chickadee or the nuthatch. After
the most exciting encounter the chickadee will come to the board and
eat as if nothing had happened.

NESTING OF JUNCOS IN BRATTLEBORO.
Harry L. Pirer, Brattleboro, Vt.

Last spring I found five pairs of Juncos, Junco hyemalis, nesting on
one hill just outside of Brattleboro. The summit of the hill is
about 800 feet above sea level and all the nests were between 600 and
700 feet. I failed to find nests on adjoining hills of the same altitude
although I did find young juncos in nestling plumage on Governors
Mountain in Guilford, six miles to the west, at an altitude of 900
feet. This mountain is about 1,500 feet in altitude and it is possible
that the juncos were hatched at a higher level and came down the
slope after leaving the nest. They are known to breed on Wantastiquet
Mountain, across the Connecticut River from Brattleboro, 1,354 feet
high. The general level above which they have been regularly recorded
in this vicinity is 1,000 feet.

I have two suggestions to make in explanation of the unusual
number of nests at the low level and would like to hear from other

18 BULLETIN No. 3

observers: in support of either theory. The first is that the cold
weather in the spring caused the juncos ,and other birds as well, to
nest at a lower level than commonly. In this case I should have
found them on nearby hills of the same altitude. .The fact that I did
not is merely negative evidence and not conclusive. I might have
found them there if I had traversed them as thoroughly day after
day as I did the hill near my home. If others observers can report
them at lower levels than commonly nesting I shall conclude that this
explanation is the correct one. Observations on other birds of a similar
nature would tend to prove the same theory.

My other theory to account for the unusual record is that the
spring before, or possibly two years before, a pair of juncos nested
on the hill. They are known to nest casually at much lower altitudes
and farther south than their normal nesting range. It is possible that
this pair of juncos had unusual success in rearing young and that a
larger number than usual lived through the winter to breed in the
spring. All these young birds that lived may have returned to the
spot where they were reared to build their nests. All five of the nests
were within a quarter of a mile radius and all on the same slope of the
hill. I know that all five of the nests were successful and a full
brood was reared in each case. If this theory is correct it would seem
probably that a colony of juncos has been established on this hill
and will continue.

The unusual number in so small a radius seems to be more than a
mere accident and I should be pleased to hear from other observers in
other parts of the state in support of either of these theories or with
new theories to advance for their occurrence here. At any rate I shall
watch with keenest interest the return of the breeding juncos the
coming spring. I have great hopes that the score or more of young
who went away will come back to perpetuate their kind in the same
locality.

NOTES ON THE WHITE EYED VIREO.
Eminty L. AND SUSAN E. CuarRKk, St. Johnsbury, Vt.

On the 22th of July, 1899, we saw and identified the White-eyed
Vireo, Vireo noveboracensis, for the first time. They were in company
with a large flock of birds, including a great number of species, which
had taken possession of a sugar orchard about a mile from the village,
and were greedily eating the millers of the army worms.

That was the year when the sugar places in this section of the state
were so devastated by that pest. The following year, May 5, 1900,
we saw and identified the white eyed vireo again in the same locality.

VERMONT BirD CLUB a 19

Our third date was May 9, 1902. At that time we saw quite a
large flock, perhaps a dozen or more. Previously we had seen only
one or two individuals.

May 9, 1905, several white eyed vireos were seen in company with a
large number of warblers of different species. The birds were in a tree
very near our house, and we stood on the doorstep and watched them
for a long time. We had the pleasure of hearing the vireos sing at that
time. The first time we had ever heard them utter a sound.

On the 21st of that same month we saw them again by the roadside
‘and heard them sing.

May 19, 1907, we saw one white eyed vireo by the roadside

These birds have been positively identified by us, as we have been
near enough to see the white eye, and all other distinguishing features.
We have never found any nests, nor can we obtain from other observers
any records of nests found in this vicinity. In fact these birds have
seldom if ever been reported by other observers in this town. As we
have (with one exception) seen them only in May we have set them
down as migrants. Authorities at Washington, and also in Southern
New England, have discredited our statements regarding these birds,
claiming this is much too far north for the white eyed vireo ever to
‘be found. We have learned from our experience in studying birds that
they sometimes fail to follow the rules laid down for them in books.
(Probably a lack of education on their part). But we believe, that
there is still a rich and unexplored field in this little corner of Northern
Vermont, that would yield valuable information, and perhaps some
‘Surprises, to one who had time to devote to these studies.

NOTES ON GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHERS’ NESTS.

Susan E. Char.

We have been interested in investigating the subject of the building
of the Great Crested Flycatcher’s nest, Myiarchus crinitus, since our
first discovery of one on May 30, 1905. This nest was in process of con-
struction, quite high up in a hole in a maple tree. Both birds were car-
rying in material when first noticed, and attracted our attention by their
loud calls and cries. They proceeded with their work, undeterred by
the presence of our picnic, directly under their tree, even if their much
ado was in protest against such intrusion. The birds carried in great
bunches of dried grass, and various materials. One took in a strange
looking object dangling from its bill, which was frayed at the ends,
and had every appearance of being the proverbial snake skin.

20 BULLETIN No. 3

On June 5, we were shown another great crested’s nest, built in
an old fence post which the birds were using. One in the next post,
which the flycatchers had used the previous year, was then occupied
by a bluebird. The contents of the nest were examined after the birds
were through with it, but no snake skin was found, nor was any found
in a nest used by them the following season. We should infer from
this, that while it may be their custom to adorn their homes with such
an ornament, they undoubtedly, frequently dispense with it.

GOLDEN EAGLE IN RUTLAND COUNTY.
GeorGE L. KirK, Rutland, Vt.

On April 15, a man living in Chittenden caught in a fox trap a
Golden Eagle, Aquila chrysaetos. It was an adult bird in good plumage,
having the characteristic well feathered legs. It was brought to Rutland
and was on exhibition alive here for some days. As one foot was badly
mangled by the trap, the eagle was eventually killed and mounted.
It is now on exhibition in the clothing store of Wilson & Root here.
The bald eagle is not uncommon at Lake Bomoseen but so far as the
writer can learn this is the only authentic record of the golden eagle
in this county. j

MEADOW LARKS IN WINTER.
GerorGE L. KIRK.

Have any members of the Vermont Club any winter records for
Meadow Larks, Sturnella magna? The writer has obtained three dur-
ing 1907, these being the only instances he has ever observed of the
larks remaining in the north during cold weather. On January 13,
the writer and a companion saw a meadow lark near this city. The
weather was very cold and the bird was in a meadow where there was
an inch or more of snow. When fiushed he seemed to be strong as the
average bird, taking a long flight. On December 17, Dr. C. B. Ross of
West Rutland, whom I know to be reliable, saw two meadow larks
in a Swampy meadow. Still later, December 23, George Gallop of
Rupert, flushed a bunch of four meadow larks in Pawlet. Several
bird students have told me that they never saw meadow larks later
than mid-November and the writer would like to hear from club mem-
bers in other parts of the state on the subject.

VERMONT BirRD CLUB 21

MY PET ROBINS.
Miss Cora I. Tarpox, Essex Junction, Vt.

To a lover of birds the nesting season is a time of great interest
and also a source of anxiety as many bird tragedies are brought before
us. The depredations of cats, the loss of home and parents, by storm
and wind have been the means of placing quite a number of waifs
and strays in my hands. Among the most interesting is the common
robin, of which we have had six, each differing from the other in a
marked degree. The first was a full grown but young bird wounded
under the left wing, evidently by a shot, which tore feathers, skin and
flesh from the ribs leaving a bad wound, clotted with blood. He was
brought to my schoolroom, and did not seem afraid as he seemed on
the verge of starvation and his hunger overcame his fear. Volunteers
were not lacking to procure earthworms for him and he was made
as comfortable as possible, having the freedom of the schoolroom. I
took him home and kept him for some time, but he never showed any-
thing but toleration of any of us and when he was able to fly he very
gladly left us, taking wing to the tallest tree in the vicinity. He left
us a stranger as he had come to us.

The next year in June, a young robin was found under the shelter
of a carwheel, calling lustily for food. A little boy placed him in my
hands and with another boy and girl was of great assistance to us
in procuring food and feeding him, as it was no small task to satisfy
an appetite like his. When he was about four weeks old, the little
girl rescued another forsaken little robin from rough treatment at the
hands of some children and taking it in one hand and guiding her
wheel with the other she soon placed him in the room with the other
pensioner. He seemed such a stupid little thing that we named him
the Idiot. He did not care to eat or drink and had no curiosity about
anything in the room, being in every way the exact opposite of his
companion who-liked nothing better than to sit on our heads, shoulders
or laps and enjoyed everything that we did for him. We felt that
the new comer must not be left to starve, however, so we caught him
and fed him much against his will for he protested against it with
great vigor; sitting down, kicking and trying with all his httle might
to escape. The older bird seemed much disturbed whenever this oc-
curred, flying to our shoulders or near the little one, uttering queer
little noises. He semed to say don’t and we could not understand it.
My sister came out of the room they occupied one day saying, “I’ve
made a discovery, the older bird is bringing up the younger one.”
Such was the case and the seeming stupidity of the little creature was

992 BULLETIN No. 3

accounted for. With all the love and devotion of a parent-bird the robin
who came to us first was teaching the other to come at a peculiar call
and whether it was hungry or not to take the food. There could not
have been more than three weeks difference in their ages, yet this baby
had taken upon himself what would have been no small burden for an
older bird and the only lack he seemed to show was judgment as to
quantity, for he literally stuffed his little charge. Many came to see
them and all could but wonder at such a display of tenderness in one
so young. All this time the little care taker was being fed from our
hands and his first food in the morning was bread and milk. He in-
variably fed his little charge before eating a mouthful, then flew back
to the dish and to us to be fed. When the first strawberries were
offered him, the temptation was too great and he treated himself to
the first mouthful though remembered his little friend in a very
generous manner after one taste. He taught it to bathe, having learned
the habit himself very early. His bathtub was a soup-plate and it was
very amusing to see him driving his small pupil round and round the
dish until he at last would hop in. When they seemed able to go out,
we opened the window and after two hours of waiting and looking out
into such a big world, they took flight one to the front, the other to the
back of the house. They called to each other until they came together
and they stayed about our yard for several days. A chair having
numerous rounds and a straight top was a favorite resting place of
the older robin while in the room and a neighbor found one on a chair
on his piazza the morning after they went out. The next year was the
one when the canker worms were so numerous, and the same chair
was used in the orchard. A robin came to it and hopped about exactly
as our little friend was accustomed to do and we were convinced that
he had returned to us as other robins seemed afraid of him.

The next one was brought to us by a neighbor when very young,
the only one of a family of four he was able to save from a cat. We
put him in a cage where he lived until he was quite large, and like all
the rest his appetite was an object lesson to any one who doubts the
absolute necessity of birds as destroyers of insect pests. He became
very fond of the common white grub, the larvae of the May beetle
and an exact account was kept one day of the number he ate. It was
forty-seven and I think he would have eaten more if he had been
allowed to. At the same time he had bread and milk, fruit and in-
sects. This was at this time the most loving and familiar of our robin
friends, but we felt that no wild bird should be kept a prisoner, so
took him to a hill some distance from the house and opened the cage
door. I was obliged to take him from the cage, but his fright upon

VERMONT BrrD CLUB 23

being in a tree was pitiful. He came back to the cage and I took him
home only to try again with the same result. This time he stayed
out over night, but found my sister and myself the next forenoon in a
field. He fiew directly to us and ate my from my hand, remaining on
my finger as I went to the house. This was my last attempt at
liberating him, except that we often opened the cage door and he would -
stand in it but rarely came out. He was a charming pet and lived
until the next February, when the fumes of turpentine accidentally
ended his life.

One year ago last June, two little friends of mine found a tiny
nestling at the foot of a tree and as no parent birds came to care for
him they put him in a nest of their own construction and gave him to
me. The little creature seemed nearly dead, having his eyes closed,
his head hanging sidewise and was scarcely able to move at all. It
seemed useless to try to feed him but for the sake of the kind care
of the little girls I opened his bill and gave him a little moistened
cracker. After a little he opened his bill for more and to my surprise
gained strength rapidly. His main food was cracker and milk which
he much preferred to earthworms, though we gave him quite a quan-
tity of them. He very soon refused them with a disgusted manner,
often taking them in his bill and throwing them to one side, at the
same time ruffling his feathers as is his habit when displeased. When
he became full grown he too was set free, but he did not show any
signs of being able to care for himself, always returning to the cage
for food and drink. He began to sing quite young but his song was
not in the least like a robin’s. It was a medley of sweet sounds, often
ending in something quite like words. Later he copied the bluebird,
the blackbirds and had the bad taste to sing one phrase of a march
played on a phonograph across the way. Sometimes he wouid rival
an oriole in calling Peter over and over and at last he began to
whisile, at first very low then loud and clear. This he caught from
hearing the dog called and has always kept it up. He whistles by the
hour, can be heard at a long distance, seems to enjoy this accom-
plishment very much, and so do a number of workmen who pass the
house and can get a response from him at any time in warm weather
by whistling first, unless he is hungry and is taking food. The last
musical lesson he learned was to sing a robin’s song, which he does
very sweetly. Mr. Burrough’s has said, I believe, that the robin’s
song is not attuned to the house, that within four walls it is strident
and wild but in this instance at least, it is not so. A young blue jay
was cared for several weeks in a cage hanging near and after listen-
in to his rather discordant call, our robin with a knowing look re-

24 BULLETIN No. 3

peated it exactly. He did not think it worth while it seems, for he did
not keep it up, neither did he pay any attention to the jay, farther
than to object to the jay being fed first. He once broke his glass
bathing dish and I replaced it with a china one of nearly the same
shape and size, but he would not use it and [I never saw him drink
-from it. When I gave him another glass one he immediately went
into it and the splashing that he indulged in, testified to his delight.
His chief food is cracker and milk, which he has always, but we give
him house flies, spiders, crickets, wireworms, earwigs, ants, grubs,
grasshoppers, indeed all sorts of insect, also lean fresh meat, all of
which he takes eagerly from our hands, but rarely can be induced
to accept anything from a stranger. A grasshopper is always a source
of surprise to him and he seldom catches a live one, but stands look-
ing in all directions after one has made his escape. His cage is his
castle and upon his return from a flight among the trees one day,
he found a waxwing occupying it. His astonishment was great and
his indignation even greater. He ran around the cage several times,
the feathers on his head standing up and if he could have reached the
little interloper would have made things disagreeable for him. The
waxwing was removed to another resting place and our little robin
went in and stayed there evidently meaning to prevent any further
happenings of that kind. His fear of any bird is great when he is out
of his cage and the robins who live near us are his enemies at all
times. I have seen two at a time attack him with such force that he
feil from the top of a tall tree to the ground. As this is the only
bird that we have ever had that has been treated in this way, we infer
that his unusual musical abilities accounts for it. Just now he cheers
us with a soft little song and an occasional whistle, often indulging
in a flight from his cage, following us from room to room, a charming
companion, the embodiment of cheerfulness and contentment,

A STORY OF A BLUEBIRD FAMILY.
(An abstract).
Miss Alice H. Sayes, Starksboro, Vt.

In the spring of 1907, I kept a daily bulletin, recording the date
of the return of each species of our migrating birds. In consulting
this record I find that the brave bluebird has first mention. At 6
A. M., March 18, I first noticed him mounted on the topmost spire of
of an old lombardy poplar in our yard, warbling “a hymn to welcome
the budding year.’ Previously, a bird box had been placed beneath the
eaves of the barn, which was soon discovered by our bluebird and his

VERMONT BirRD CLUB 25

mate. On Easter Sunday, March 31, Mrs. Bluebird was hard at work
making her new home. A late, cold spring delayed their housekeeping.
However, on May 10, four little nestlings brought great joy to this
little home. On May 27, three youngsters so plump and pretty came
to the door many times and looked out into the world so new and
strange to them, while the parents were teaching them their call
notes. | F :

Early next morning the four little birds made their debut, being
escorted by their parents to a nearby orchard, each one being able to
fly quite independently. On May 29, the ground was white with snow.
My birds moved to an open pasture lot where brighter sun and shorter
grass better enabled them to hunt insects, which were very scare.
On Memorial Day a hawk caused a tragedy in our bird family. The
mother bird and one of the children fell victims to a savage appetite.
The father coaxed the three remaining children back to the orchard
and later to the trees on our lawn. The lonely parent was now in
a sad plight with three hungry mouths to feed and with insects
scarce.

I trust I lightened his burdens by throwing May beetles underneath
the wires from which he watched for insects below. He would im-
mediately dart down and after beating them to.a pulp, would take them
to his babies in the branches. He became quite tame and was loved
and admired by us all. Meanwhile, the little home in the bird box
was very dear to the faithful father, as not a day passed that he did
not go in and out many times.

After a little, the second brood left the nest, the parents leading the
so gay that he attracted a spinster or a widow and brought her home
to be his bride, and stepmother to his beautiful babies. lf he had
hoped that she would help him share his iamily burdens, he must
have been sadly disappointed, for Mrs. Bluebird No. 2 immediately
proceeded to correct his babies. Many times he was obliged to step
in between them and would coax her away by bringing her some choice
insect. Soon the young birds began to procure their own food, but
the father fed them a hearty meal at supper time.

In due season five little ones appeared in the new home. The
mother was tender and devoted to them. She was never willing
that the older children should even step in for a look at their little
half brothers and sisters. Moreover, she insisted that the father
should help her drive his older children from home. At first he
objected and continued his watchfulness and devotion to his mother-
less children. But finally, after constant scolding from wife No. 2,

26 BULLETIN No. 3

father bluebird actually joined her in driving them from the paternal
root.

After a little, the second brood left the nest, the parents leading the
young to nearby trees and teaching them to use their wings. Grad-
ually they worked farther and farther away from the house. I trust.
their little family circle is still an unbroken one.

REPORT OF THE GENERAL WORK OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIA-
TION OF AUDUBON SOCIETIES FOR 1907.

Mrs. ELizABETH B. DAVENPORT.

Mr. William Dutcher, President of the National Association
opened his annual address with this quotation from Stevenson, “It
is a golden maxim to cultivate the garden for the nose, and the eyes
will take care of themselves. Nor must the ear be forgotten; without
birds, a garden would be a prison yard,’ and then proceeded to tell
what the Society had done to prevent our country from gravitating to
this lamentable condition, giving the results of the work, by special
agents in Reservations, Warden Work, Educational Work, State Socie-
ties, Women’s Clubs and Preservation of Big Game.

Time will not permit:more than an outline of any of these branches.
of activity.

Mr. T. Gilbert Pearson, our secretary, in addition to his general
work has been doing special field work, cruising along the coast to
locate breeding colonies of seabirds and securing wardens to guard
them. In South Carolina, near Cape Romaine he found 500 least
tern, now a rare bird.

He attended the meetings of the International Conference of Cot-
ton Manufacturers and Growers, Atlanta, Ga.; the biennial session of
the National Ass. of Game Wardens and Commissioners, held in
National Park, Wyoming, and the meeting of the League of American
Sportsmen (Norfolk).

At all of these gatherings strong resolutions were secured endors-
ing the work of the U. S. Biol. Survey.

Legislative work in North and South Carolina and Georgia also
claimed his attention. He reports the State Audubon Society in South
Carolina incorporated by the Legislature with all the power of a game
commission.

Mr. Edward Howe Forbush was occupied mainly with legislative
work from January till June in Massachusetts, Connecticut and New
Hampshire. In Massachusetts, bills were passed to protect loons,
eagles, gulls and the more useful owls and hawks.

VERMONT BirRD CLUB PAT

About 2,000 acres are set aside in Martha’s Vineyard for the pro-
tection and propagation of the vanishing heath hen, once generally
distributed on New England coast, now in its last stronghold.

In Connecticut laws were secured requiring registration of all
hunters, and close season for wild fowl, snipe and shore birds from
Jan. 1st to Sept. 1st.

In New Hampshire bills were passed for protection of wood duck,
upland plover and kill deer at all times for a term of years. Twenty-
two lectures were also given before State Normal Schools, farmers’
associations, and legislatures in the three states.

Mr. H. H. Kopman has been busy in Louisiana and Mississippi,
attending farmers’ institutes (25), organizing work and cruising along
the coast in interest of protection of royal terns,. brown pelicans,
man-o-war birds, black skimmers, laughing gulls, Louisiana herons. He
reported only 6 pairs of snowy herons.

Mr. William L. Finlay has been vigorously at work in Oregon and
Washington. Mr. Finlay is known widely for his studies of western
birds, his lectures and publications relative to bird life histories. Dur-
ing the past few years there has been considerable work in economic
conditions in Oregon and Washington incident to the clearing off
and settling of great areas, where fruit raising has grown to be the
leading industry. In order to forestall evil birds legislation from
persons il] informed as to true relations of birds to agriculture, a sys-
tematic work on education has been inaugurated. Under the authority
of the University of Oregon, literature will be distributed. Mr.
Finlay has been lecturing (no finer slides are used in the country) to
granges and has used the press to good advantage. Mr. Finlay has
also lectured on bird study and protection in Illinois, Michigan, Minne-
sota and Indiana.

Mr. John B. Watson acted as warden at Bird Key during May, June
and July, which are important months for the nesting of sooty and
noddy terns. At this same time he was engaged in the study of the
habits of these birds for the Marine Biology Laboratory of the Carnegie
Institution.

A. C. Bent looked after the colonies on Cobb’s Island, Virginia, and
Mr. Arthur H. Norton those of the Maine coast.

Six new reservations have been secured, four on the Pacific coast.
The Three Arch Reservation is on the coast of Oregon—Flattery
Rocks, Quillayute Needles and Copalis Rock on the Washington coast,
Tern,.Island and Shell Keys on the coast of Louisiana.

In these Federal Reservations the warden is elected and appointed
by the executive, the salary nominal, but the real compensation is
paid by the National Association.

28 BULLETIN No. 3

The Federal Government owns no land in the 13 original states
nor any in Texas. Here it can be secured only by legislative act or
purchase.

Pennsylvania has adopted the game refuge plan. This does not
shut out man from occupation, but makes shooting within its limits
illegal ‘at any time of year.

The educational work has been very largely extended the last
year. Six new educational leaflets have been issued (Kill deer Bluebird,
Red-winged Blackbirds, Baltimore Oriole, Indigo Bunting, Purple Finch.
Special ones in February, April. In June, Wood Duck, August and
Flocking Time as “Specials”); 608,050 leaflets, making 2,320,450 pages,
have been issued and circulated. 15,440 reports, 266,047 colored plates
and 244,000 outlines of birds for children to color have also been
distributed.

1. “We stand for the rights of our fellow citizens, the wild birds
and animals and demand just and uniform laws for their protection
and also for their rigid enforcement.

2. For civil service in appointment of game wardens.

3. Emphatically for abolition of spring shooting of any kind, on
the ground that it the season for rapid decrease of many species of
birds.

4. We recommend short open season and small bag limit, and
close season when necessary for recuperation of the species.

5. Recommend game license. :

6. Prohibition of cold storage of game of any kind.

7. Federal protection for all migratory birds as it is practically
impossible to secure uniform state legislation to prevent the disap--
pearance of several species now known to be on verge of extinction.

8. We urge enlargement of the Biology Survey on the ground that
the information furnished by the bureau is absolutely necessary for
the farmers of our country, and so urge increased appropriation for
its use.” :

Experts tell us $800,000,000 is the sum lost to us annually
by rodent and insect pests. Could a greater plea than this be urged.
for the work of the society?

Our membership is still under 1,000. It is not only for the
financial help that we desire to increase the membership, but because
each member is a new center from which effective work may grow.

Vermont has been favored with a director on the board since the
incorporation of the society, an honor, when one considers this board
is limited by the law of the state which is in legal headquarters,
and many states must always be without representation.

VERMONT Birp CLUB 29

Circumstances obliged me to resign after having served but one
year of my second term, but Vermont still has a director, Mr. Carlton D.
Howe having been elected to the vacancy. He will need the hearty
cooperation of every member of the Bird Club in educational lines,
and it may be to uphold his hands in more strenuous times, should
adverse sentiment assail our legislative halls as it did last year.
When a right understanding of the true value of our bird life to the
welfare of our country is universal, we shall not need to fear the enact-
ment of unwise laws, and we each have a duty to hasten this happy
time, by untiring effort into which we must put mind and heart.

Mr. Dutcher quotes this pertinent paragraph from Phillips Brooks:

“It means something that, in the disorders of thought and
feeling, so many men are fleeing to the study of ordinary nature, and
it is rest and comfort. Whatever men are feeling, the seasons come
and go. Whatever men are doubting, the rock is firm under their
feet, and the steadfast stars pass in their course overhead. Men who
dare count on nothing else, may still count on the tree’s blossoming and
the grape’s coloring. It is good for a man perplexed and lost among
many thoughts to come into closer intercourse with nature, and to
learn her ways and to catch her spirit. It is no fancy to believe that
if the children of this generation are taught a great deal more than we
used to be taught of nature, and the ways of God in nature, they
will be provided with the material for far happier, healthier and
less perplexed and anxious lives than most of us are living.’

Dr. A. J. Allen in reviewing the President’s Report, says in part,
(January Awk, p. 102), although the association has a large endow-
ment, its income is far too short for its needs, which as “its work
broadens, necessarily, steadily increases. The work already accom-
plished in the short period-of its existence is astonishing; the activities
of its president, his resourcefulness in discovering new lines of use-
fulness, his promptness in action in cases of emergency, and his un-
selfish devotion to the great cause he has thus far so successfully
promoted, are a sufficient warrant for a most urgent appeal that his
hands be further strengthened by additional financial aid for the work
that must necessarily devolve upon the Association from year to year
as its work advances.”

BIRD LIST, 1907, BRATTLEBORO AND VICINITY.
W. C. Horton AND H. L. PIPer.

The list contains the names of 109 species of birds. The resident
birds seen were chickadee, goldfinch, bluejay, red-breasted nuthatch,

30 BULLETIN No. 3

white-breasted nuthatch, downy woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, red-
tailed hawk, partridge, crow, screech owl, great horned owl, brown
creeper and pileated woodpecker. This last is a rare bird hereabouts,
a single one being seen by Mr. Horton last month. The winter visitors
seen were northern shrike, goshawk, American crossbill, white-winged
crossbill, siskin, snow bunting, tree sparrow and pine grosbeak. The
list of arrivals from the south in the spring and the dates of their
coming follows:

Feb. 20, junco; March 15, fox sparrow, robin; 17, bluebird, song
sparrow; 22, bronzed grackle, red-winged blackbird; 238, phoebe; 26,
Canada goose; 27, woodcock, kingfisher; 28, golden-crowned kinglet;
31, vesper sparrow, white-throated sparrow; April 4, hermit thrush,
meadow lark, field sparrow; 5, flicker; 7, cedar waxwing; 10, Savannah
sparrow; 11, ruby-crowned kinglet; 17, pine warbler; 20, tree swallow;
24, chipping sparrow; 25, purple finch; 28, barn swallow, bank swallow;
May 5, black and white warbler, chewink, myrtle warbler; 7, chimney
swift, eave swallow; 8, least flycatcher, black-throated green warbler,
yeilow warbler; 10, yellow-throated vireo, kingbird; 11, black-throated
blue warbler, parula warbler, Wilson’s thrush, Nashville warbler, oven
bird, solitary vireo, yellow-bellied flycatcher, house wren; 12, winter
wren, wood thrush; 13, warbling vireo; 14, blackburnian warbler,
eatbird, chestnut-sided warbler, rose-breasted grosbeak, scarlet tanager,
Baltimore oriole, brown thrasher, redstart, spotted sandpiper, Cooper’s
hawk; 15, bobolink, Canadian warbler; 17, Wilson’s warbler, northern
water thrush; 18, white-rumped sandpiper, indigo bunting, olive-backed
thrush, Alice’s thrush, black-billed cuckoo, ruby throated humming-
bird; 19, magnolia warbler, great crested flycatcher; June 5, blackpoll
warbler.

Besides these, 15 other birds were seen by one or both observ-
ers at some time in the summer. As they were not seen until long
after their probable arrival the dates when they were found are
not given. They were wood pewee, green heron, grasshopper sparrow,
bittern, marsh hawk, nighthawk; red-shouldered hawk, black duck,
swamp sparrow, whip-poor-will, osprey, solitary sandpiper, shairp-
shinned hawk, yellow-billed cuckoo and yellow bellied sapsucker.

BIRD LIST, 1907, RUTLAND AND VICINITY.
GEORGE L. KIRK.

January 3, great grey owl; 13, meadow lark, chickadee, blue jay,
golden crowned kinglet, hairy woodpecker, ruffed grouse, snowflake;
18, white bellied nuthatch; 24, pine grosbeak; February 2, crow; 22,

VERMONT Brirp CLUB Syl

tree sparrow, goldfinch; March 3, horned lark; 10, red-bellied nuthatch,
pine siskin; 11, northern shrike; 17, bluebird, song sparrow, red
shouldered hawk; 18, robin; 21, sparrow hawk; 22 junco, phoebe; 23,
red-winged blackbird; 24, red-tailed hawk, meadow lark; 25 Canada
goose; 26, bronzed grackle; 28, purple finch; 29, Savannah sparrow;
30, vesper sparrow; 31, flicker, rusty biackbird, cowbird; April 4,
chipping sparrow; 5, fox sparrow; 7, winter wren; 9, redpoll, hermit
turush; 14, marsh hawk; 15, golden eagle; 16, American merganser,
20, swamp sparrow; 21, bald eagle, herring gull, Cooper’s hawk; 23,
kingfisher; 28, field sparrow, barn swallow, Wilson thrush; 30 purple
martin; May 1, cliff swallow, myrtle warbler; 3, cedar waxwing, white
throated sparrow, yellow bellied sapsucker, spotted sandpiper; 5,
osprey, yellow redpoll warbler; 8, chimney swift, king bird; 10, least
flycatcher, black and white warbler; 11, chewink, brown thrasher,
tree swaliow, brown creeper; 12, yellow throated vireo, parula warbler,
black-throated green warbler, black-throated blue warbler, Nashville
warbler, ovenbird, yellow warbler; 14, warbling vireo, pine warbler,
scarlet tanager, bobolink, Maryland yellow-throat, red-eyed vireo; 15,
Baltimore oriole, chestnut-sided warbler, magnolia warbler, black-
burnian warbler, redstart, white-crowned sparrow, catbird; 17, house
wren, ruby-throated hummingbird; 19, olive backed thrush, solitary
vireo, white rumped sandpiper, bank swallow, Canada warbler, great-
crested flycatcher, rose-breasted grosbeak; 25, night hawk; 26, indigo
bunting, wood pewee, black-billed cuckoo, Bartramiam sandpiper; 27,
semi-palmated plover; long billed marsh wren; June 1, blackpoll
warbler; 20, quail; September 3, solitary sandpiper, northern water
thrush; October 24, Hudsonian chickadee; 27, ruddy duck, saw-whet
owl. 111 species.

BIRD LIST, 1907,.ST. JOHNSBURY AND VICINITY.
MISSES EMILY AND SUSAN CLARK.

January 1, chickadee, white-breated nuthatch; 6, American gold-
finch; 24, pine grosbeak; 26, blue jay; February 11, redpoll; March 2,
tree sparrow; prairie horned lark; 17, crow, American merganser;
23, bluebird, red-winged blackbird, robin; 29, song sparrow, junco,
cowbird; 30, bronze grackle, downy woodpecker, phoebe, fox sparrow;
April 5, brown creeper; 7, vesper sparrow, Savannah sparrow, red-bellied
nuthatch; 13, northern shrike; 20, marsh hawk; 21, kingfisher; 25,
sap-sucker; 27, chipping sparrow, flicker; 28, myrtle warbler, hermit
thrush, tree swallow, rusty blackbird; 29, ruby crowned kinglet, white-
throated sparrow; 30, purple finch; May 3, barn swallow; 5, spotted

’

32 BULLETIN No. 3

sandpiper, field sparrow; 8, kingbird; 9, black and white warbler,
red-eyed vireo; 10, least flycatcher, bank swallow, ruffed grouse; 13,
chimney swift; 14, Baltimore oriole, hairy woodpecker, rose-breasted
grosbeak, white crowned sparrow, warbling vireo, magnolia warbler,
biack-throated blue warbler, yellow warbler; 15, yellow-throated vireo,
black-throated green warbler, bobolink, cliff swallow, redstart, chestnut-
sided warbler, Nashville warbler, ovenbird, blue-headed vireo, wood-
cock, Wilson thrush; 18, parula warbler, Blackburnian warbler, solitary
sandpiper; 19, white-eyed vireo, great crested flycatcher, Maryland
yellow throat, olive sided flycatcher; 20, ruby-throated hummingbird,
scarlet tanager; 24, indigo bunting; 26, Canadian warbler; 27, wood
pewee, house wren, night hawk; June 2, Traill’s flycatcher; 7, black
poll warbler; 9, cedar bird; July 8, brown thrasher, red headed wood-
pecker; 11, olive backed thrush; August 29, great blue heron; Septem-—
ber 1, osprey; October 6, winter wren. 90 species.

BIRD NOTES.

Mr. W. C. Horton of Brattleboro is investigating the distribution
of purple martins in Vermont. Anyone who knows of a nesting colony
will kindly report to him.

Mrs. E. B. Davenport of Brattleboro is collecting data as to the
range of the wood thrush. She would be pleased to receive reports.

A member suggests the following as a new feature for future
bulletins. Let any member who wishes to ask questions or who de-
sires information in regard to bird life of our state, send such to the
secretary of the club, who will have the questions printed together
with the person’s name and address in the bulletin. Then any one
who is able to give the desired information is urged to write directly
to the inquirer. If this meets with approval and sufficient questions
are sent in, the plan will be adopted in the next issue of the bulletin.

Dr. and Mrs. L. H. Ross of Bennington observed on May 30, 1907,
the common tern, sterna hirundo. Dr. Ross says: ‘This is the only
record we know of a tern being observed in Vermont.”

Miss Evalyn Darling of Woodstock contributes the following:
Upon looking out of the window on the morning of Oct. 26, 1907,
to some small spruces, I saw a warbler that was entirely new to me.
The general color of it was olive gray, but what attracted my attention
most was the distinct yellow wing patches that had a slightly darker
tone in their center. The crown was yellow with white lines above
the eyes, black below, and the dark throat was separated from the black
eye patches by light lines. It staid about several hours, exhibiting no

VERMONT Bird CLUB 33

fear, giving me ample opportunity for studying it. I identified the
birds as the golden-winged warbler, helminthophila chrysoptera.

Mrs. Inez A. H. Griswold of St. Johnsbury describes thus her
observation of hooded warblers. While driving on May 28, 1907, I
noticed in some yellow birch saplings a pair of beautifully marked
birds, the marks appealing most strongly to me being their black
hoods, white marks on their tails and a flash of yellow as they moved
in and out among the leaves feeding. I hastened to the Fairbank’s
Museum where with Miss Griffin’s aid, I looked them up among the
specimens and in the more complete key, and identified them beyond
doubt as the hooded warbler, Wilsonia mitrata. I was much delighted
to know that this bird had never before been reported in St. Johns-
bury.

In the summer of 1906, a pair of Canadian warblers, Wilsonia
canadensis had their nest near a rear window of our house, in a butter-
nut branch. There they raised their young and sang their songs
utterly oblivious of my daily observations of their- daily life.

Mrs. Griswold reports also observing a flock of Canada jays,
perisorens canadensis, feeding upon frozen apples in the vicinity of
St. Johnsbury on Noy. 24, 1907.

Winter robins have been reported at Brattleboro, Proctor, and
Essex Junction.

Mr. Horton of Brattleboro saw a song sparrow on Jan, 12, 1908.
He reports also the kingfisher wintering in that town.

Mr. R. G. Brock of Wells River reports seeing a pair of red-headed
woodpeckers, melanerpes erythrocephalus, on May 12, 1907. In the
summer of 1907, a male chewing, pipilo erythrophthadmus, was seen,
a rare bird in that vicinity. In March, 1907, as arctic three-toed wood-
pecker, picoides arcticus, was taken by a local taxidermist. In Rye-
gate crows with strain of white feathers have been noticed for the
past fifteen years.

Mr. H. L. Chapman of Windham has taken a photograph of a wood-
cock, philohela minor, sitting upon its nest. The photograph makes
an attractive postcard.

The following persons were elected to membership at the winter

meeting:

MIpescenCOM caret ERAT COTM «2 aco 0 os axeutieep svenaaterene etarsrensyonents thlare apd ays cake Burlington.
MASSMNIATIOM ES OUROT 6)... os: <(s:<) sie ielone ete 108 N. Winooski Ave., Burlington.
remind: Sitio |. . ~... . 2 sok Rae nk mek. oad Groton

RS Ses TUS nice cievaus sc ss one) 3 5 = ues 31 Church St., Burlington.

34 BULLETIN No. 3

Mics. \Josephiine .S.tBrown (2% «207 0 UA, Gi ees Se *..Starksboro.
Mr: EL. eS eChapman. ¢2\< .jd2t. avd A eee oe eee Windham.
Mr. Byrongi@larkt: . (21.0008 & pooner Y. M. C. A., Burlington.
Mrs eweeColling™.. ..u<4 1 SON SER aon ae ee ee es ae Westminster.
Nirs:a/Cheron) 'Colton: v . sit. 3}. Aa Sees Se eee Montpelier.
MrseG: Richmond: Childs ¢i ato. d renter dette ttcictet ore hae South Barre.
ReynEavA: (Durfee. . ..2:. SRE Aas Se cee Winooski.
Missmiliza beth... Durfee i684 ..4. «Scan. See eda eee Winooski.
MissacAlice (M. Durfee iki e eel ae ee ee Winooski.
Mirs:eAnnionC. Batons ii ae See see ote Prospect St., Burlington.
Mats SALW. OH: «1 «Sec ARISE ORAS SOR, Es ree Bristol
Mirae. Wright “Marra, (9s. oases ctl tena ie eer Burlington.
Driv iJ. MOSter xe: Boia Oodkzerr eo eons omer Waterbury Center.
MirsiCu. Co Gatesit . heii aoa Ao ot See Se ee ee eee Hartland
Mir: A? (Losaymes tt. dh ee. Se te eae Readsboro.
Mrs James Hartness® :. 2202: de eee Ric arctte oe hoeeeeveie Springfield.
Miss, Annie iM.“ Holcomibt 2 Baia s feats he ncetaioeckates ate otenn te eit St. Albans.
Mrs!. BH Jones 12... 27S Te ee tani eee Windham.
Missii Mary ‘Bawrence se. Pare. Ra. Bae iter Windham,
Miss, Katherine) Miles .43.5.ais si cis erdeb ates era eee Brattleboro.
Mrs. EW? IMoore 045 o..Ri 2 IEE tonics ahs Aeneas Woodstock.
Mirse, Zellam NG well csc cei. bic age sets aris pojeco we aPeneeiey eke cee Sea ee Charlotte.
Mrs? Apnesh Paksons 2au2. Sik A... Bee. DION wate. Mee Lowell, Mass.
Miss: Bessie (Rust) i. 208s. G5 ket. pera 58 Pearl St., Burlington.
Mrsiwayne UM Reed it as. PUSSY La nik ante 26 ote lone ae ct Montpelier.
Mir. OWillisM. Ross. Wee. SS ok oe Oe eee Rutland.
Miss Carrie“Br Sibley ese) 2S. Rete ae ence North Montpelier.
Miss’ Blanche sh. ‘Spracwe: 25s. cee on Aen. cee chance © eres rere Stamford
Miss, Kate’ Stewart-:...:20). 21s Fin. SEIS BARE whale ierciet a sbosal tele eine Bristol
Miss*AlicetE Sayles! Hs: BALI epee. thle deh etatereys crenberomete Charlotte.
Miss ‘Constance’ (Up am De ..siere.s oc cue oats) oer orcuslelsiaoie OR ene Windham.
Miss* Mainy Ey Waterman 9265, ciete.< Wtetcdercee ster tore cheno ehereltors Williamstown.
Mr; Joseph! “Wellwood! ©. ...i8°.%,. 22). Se ee riar., osha ram iste reiees Rutland.

The following persons were elected to membership at the summer
meeting:

Mr. William:BarclayjtJitsen x2)5.5 Ss Ry oc nites peeeiok a Oise eee Barre.
Mr, John’ "BOOtHS \AA Nee eT Tee ihe eee te fale en meee Barre.
Mir? La HMBreshmier scree tere else coe ciara so tmey neater tene lene ere feel ot eae Barre.
Miss, Mary Et ‘Jenmison\. is ter veetcie eee tener eens St. Albans.

MreePhomas*d* Mercerts so sa aoeeae eee Fn Een rin. Boo Barre.

(Se)
oO

VERMONT BirRD CLUB

Nips TENA Ib, LETC ong Clepeegeo 0 6 0 6 Sicio Goiodic 6 cde oon ot Brattleboro.
Mire, Wiis, TEESE ioilicl 9 6s We SE SIG eicio:< 5. Bic RIE CIRO aD ic OOO acImOm De Rutland.
Eee See HELO OTM eieraien, «ssi ec drebetevetstel syehe) ciale) «petchatsteleteyle alle)'susllers ete « Rutland.
WORE Wikhac bie Sehabitegslers algempacy oo 6 c North Adams, Mass., R. F. D. No. 2. -

The Club mourns the loss by death, of three members during the
past year. Walter Rockwood Davis of Newton, Mass., died April 3,
1907; Mrs. Frances Belle Horton of Brattleboro, Vt., died August 18,
1907; Mrs. Isabel Paddock Carter of St. Johnsbury, Vt., died Septem-
ber 15, 1907. .

Be aM ae Si aie i EE aed

THE SUMMER MEBRTING.

The sixth annual field meeting was held at Pownal, July 2-and BS
1907. According to custom this meeting was held jointly with that
of the Vermont Botanical Club.

At the business meeting nine new members were chosen.

It was voted to send copies of the Bulletin to the various periodi-
cals devoted to ornithology, and to the public libraries in the State.

THE WINTER MEETING.

The seventh annual winter meeting of the Vermont Bird Club
was held at the Williams Science Hall, University of Vermont, Burling-
ton, January 17-18, 1908.

Fifteen papers were read, most of these papers in abstract or in
full, are printed in this Bulletin. Aside from these there were pre-
sented notes, observations and records of interest by many members
of the Club.

The usual business was transacted, officers were elected, and 37
new members were chosen.

A motion was made to unite the Vermont Bird Club and the
Audubon Society of Vermont. After considerable discussion the motion
was voted down.

The treasurer reported a balance of $5.62 in the treasury.

It was voted to hold the next summer meeting in conjunction
with the meeting of the New England Federation of Natural History
Societies, on Mt. Washington the first week of July. The details
of the exact date and arrangements were left with Mr. John Ritchie, Jr.,
of Boston.

9

36 BULLETIN No. 3

THE NEXT SUMMER MEETING ON MT. WASHINGTON.
(Reprinted from the Botanical Bulletin).

The Botanical and Bird Clubs by unanimous vote accepted the
invitation of the officers of the New England Federation of Natural
History Societies to join in a federation field-meeting next summer on
Mt. Washington. Mr. John Ritchie, Jr., of Boston was present at
the winter meeting and not only explained the plan in some detail
but exhibited a beautiful series of lantern slides illustrating Mount
Washington scenery and flora.

The Field Meeting will be on the general plan of those of the
Appalachian Mountain Clyb, with the various conveniences that the
excursion work of the Club has developed, including leaders, lunch
boxes, paraffine paper, lists of the party, etc. The plan will be to
spend the days in walks and collecting trips about the peaks, ravines,
and “lawns” and the evenings and unpleasant mornings in the com-
paring and identification of specimens and the presentation of papers,
one evening being devoted to societies of each of the New England
States. To defray the costs of the Meeting, the Federation will ask of
each one who attends a fee of $1.00.

The arrangements for board at the Summit House, where the
regular rate is $5.00 per day, is this: One day, $4.00; two days, $7.50;
three days, $10.50; four days, $13.00; five days, $15.00; six days, $16.50
and seven days, $17.50. For any wishing to remain longer, the rate
will be then, $2.50 a day.

Arrangements will also be made to have up-tickets and down-
tickets on the Mount Washington railway separate, so that any who
wish to walk one way will not be obliged to pay the full double fare.
The rate to Federation members will be $2.00 each way.

We are advised by Mr. Ritchie that it has been decided that the
official convening of the Federation will occur on Wednesday evening,
July 1 and the official closing on Wednesday, July 8. Friday, July 3, has
been designated as Vermont Club Day, with its meeting in the evening.

It remains to be decided whether it may be most satisfactorily
occupied by a presidential address, by a general “roll call” including
an original contribution from our “poet laureate,” or by serving Ver-
mont sugar on snow from Tuckerman ravine. Whatever is decided
will be announced later. The thing of chief importance as contribu-
ting to its success is that as many Vermonters as practicable go and
that all who are going, so plan as to be present that day. Early
application for places is desirable, since other parties have made ap-
plication for the rooms not used by the Federation. Communicate
directly with Mr. J. H. Emerton, Secretary of the Federation, 194
Clarendon St., Boston, Mass.

a3,

*
.

BULLETINNOS 466 0°
DECEMBER, 1910

PUBLISHED ANNUALLY BY THE CLUB

VERMONT BIRD CLUB

BULLETIN NOS. 4& 5

DECEMBER, 1910

PUBLISHED ANNUALLY BY THE CLUB

BURLINGTON

Tue SHELDON Press
1911

VERMONT BIRD CLUB.

Bulletin Nos. 4 and 5. December, 1910.

PUBLISHED ANNUALLY BY THE CLUB.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Possibilities of the Vermont Bird Club by Mrs. A. B. Morgan .
A Rare Bird Visitor by Delia I. Griffin ae Sehr
The Evening Grosbeak by Mrs. C. V. H. Gaia

My Second Attempt to Colonize the mee Martin by Nwilliam

C. Horton
Other Martin Colonies by W. C. Saeeton:
Bird Photography by Frank S. Hoag ‘
Bird Notes from St. Johnsbury by Inez A. Howe
Hartland Sparrows by Mrs. Mary B. Gates
Warbler Migration, 1908 by Mrs. A. B. Morgan
Warblers Recorded by the Hartland Nature Clnb, 1908
Some Ideal and Unique Nesting Places by Sara E. Graves
How to Destroy English Sparrows
Bird Lists A
Bird List 1909, Rutland oad Vicinity ny Georte oh Kirk .
Bird List 1909, Bennington and Vicinity by Dr. L. H. Ross .
Bird Notes te et eas
The American Bird Banding Aissociation
List of Active Members of the Bird Club

cn o

OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES.

President, Prof. G. H. Perkins, . .-. . . . Butlingtop
Vice-President, Mr.G. H. Ross, .. . =. + «| autlane
Secretary and Treasurer, Mr. Carlton D. Howe, Essex Junction

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

Prof. J. W.. Votey, °. we ifs © 2) asp (Ly) <0, ge ee
Mrs. Elizabeth B..Davenport, . .. . . . 9 Brattlebene
Mrs..A. B.. Morgan; : 9°: >...) 2 |. « ‘9 Witgeeieuamate
Miss Delia-I.Grifiny ~°2 2 0.6 . 2) 2 (Sienna

PUBLICATION COMMITTEE.

G. H. Ross C. D. Howe H. G. Rugg

One copy of this Bulletin is sent to each member of the
Club. Additional copies may be secured at ten cents each.
Orders for these and other communications relative to the Bul-
letin should be addressed to Carlton D. Howe, Secretary, Ver-
mont Bird Club, Essex Junction, Vt.

POSSIBILITIES OF THE VERMONT BIRD CLUB.
BY MRS. A. B. MORGAN.

With the idea of increasing the efficiency and usefulness of
the Vermont Bird Club, I wish to suggest a few ideas for the
consideration of its members.

Although a good number keep bird records and report any
observations that are out of the ordinary, the broader and more
general phases of bird study have not been attempted by any
great number of members. Migration, songs, nesting habits,
eggs, diet, ecology, photography in connection with bird study,
comparative study of birds in different parts of the state, com-
parison with those of other New England states, preservation of
bird skins, the making of collections and the use of collections,
all of these subjects are capable of yielding a vast amount of
interest and information, if the Executive Committee will
formulate a plan and assign definite work to members.

I suggest that work on migration be done by four or five
members in different parts of the state for comparison of both
spring and fall dates, observation of weather conditions, feeding
grounds, and routes.

Members of the Club who are musical might volunteer to
study bird songs and give the results tothe Club. The study of
bird notes has been done very successfully by one of our mem-
bers in the Hartland Club.

There is a wide field for the study of the nesting habits and
eggsof birds. In this connection photography is of immense value.
The taking of pictures showing the favorite haunts of species
would be of interest, especially if some of the pictures were en-
larged. Here again volunteers from the ranks of the camera
fiends would be in order.

Personal observations on the diet of birds supplemented by
the study of scientific reports would be a good work for some of
our masculine members.

The work of comparative study of birds of different sections
of the state already done successfully by certain members might
well be extended to include the study of birds of the other New
England states. “Chis would mean putting ourselves in touch
with noted bird students and with other State Bird Clubs, there-
by enhancing our interest and knowledge. Speaking from a
personal standpoint, the study of collections has done more to

6 BULLETIN 4 and 5

help me in the identification of species and consequently in
creating a live interest, than any other factor.

Why not use any available material for this work? ‘There
is a collection here at the University of Vermont that would be
of immense value to many of us, if it were used to illustrate
papers given by Club members, especially if these members were
familiar with collections. “Two years ago I borrowed a small
collection of bird skins fromthe museum of the University and
used them to good advantage in school, in our local Club, and
with individuals just beginning bird study.’ I also used them to
paint from, thus adding to my collection of bird paintings.

Some years ago I learned how to prepare birds skins and
now have a collection of over fifty, all of these birds with the
exception of two or three having met death from natural causes.
People in Woodstock and in Hartland have been interested to
send me specimens always wishing to know about the bird
itself. It seems desirable that a Club member in each section
should be able to prepare skins and so save them for purposes of
study. A lesson demonstrating the skinning of a bird, the
preservation and stuffing of the skin would be: both helpful and
practical.

When there are several State Club members in one town,
they can band themselves together into a local organization and
so serve as a centre for the promotion of interest in bird study.
If as in Hartland, the members of the Botanical Club join hands
with those of the Bird Club and embrace nature work in general,
a most desirable result is effected. Whenever the Hartland
Nature Club has made exhibits or holds meetings of a public
character, it has invited the local members of the State Club and
in so doing has formed their acquaintance and made them con-
tributing factors to a good cause. I cannot emphasize too
strongly the possibilities that lie in this one direction.

Of course the Bird Club stands for the protection and
preservation of bird life, but so long as the women who are its
members persist in wearing feathers on their hats, [ do not feel
that the Club has reached its highest possibilities in this line.
The last time I appeared before you my hat was topped with a
wonderful creation niade up of guinea wings in their natural
colors combined with others dyed in beautiful blue green. I
knew all the time I wanted nothing of it but the milliner, in
sweetest tones, convinced me that it was the only thing she had
that preserved the color harmony of my attire. She succeeded
in accomplishing her purpose for the moment, but she effectually

VERMONT BIRD CLUB 7

cured me of wearing feathers of any description. From my ex-
periences I believe there are no compromises to be made with
the milliners and the influence of decking oneself even with
guinea feathers is such as to diminish and almost nullify the
very principle for which we as members of the Vermont Bird
Club stand. You may think [ have taken a radical position,
but remember that I am merely suggesting possibilities, you are
as free as the birds of the air to accept or reject them.

A RARE BIRD VISITOR.
(The Connecticut Warbler, Oporornts Agilis.)

BY DELIA I. GRIFFIN.

On September 1, 1908, Prof. Henry Fairbanks of St.
Johnsbury, brought to the Fairbanks Museum an unusual visit-
or in this locality. It was an olive-green bird, slender of shape
and with delicate bill. Its identity puzzled this man who has stua-
ied Vermont birds with both gun and field glass for a half cen-
tury. We took it to the bird exhibits in the Museum and stud-
ied and compared. A warbler it plainly was, but absence of any
distinctive coloring made it exceedingly difficult of identification.
Finally we looked ata Museum specimen and at the bird in
hand, questioning, “Can it really be?”? Then we packed the
bird up and sent it to Mr. W. W. Cooke of the Biological Sur-
vey in Washington with a letter of full explanation in regard to
its finding, how the first member of the family astir in the morn-
ing found the little dead thing on the piazza floor, every indica-
tion pointing to its having flown against a window and so been
killed.

We made this letter most humble as well, for had we not
come in contact with Mr. Cooke before, regarding dates of this
same warbler?

The response to that letter certainly did ourhearts good, for
Mr. Cooke wrote, “It is the Connecticut Warbler as I suppose
you had suspected and [ want to congratulate you on the record,
for it is probably the second sure record for Vermont and not
only the most northern record in that state but the most northern
for the whole of New England.

{t will be of interest to the members of the Vermont Bird
Club to know that this warbler has been reported to the Museum
as being in St. Johnsbury on the following dates, nearly every

8 BULLETIN 4 and 5

report having been made by the Misses Susan and Emily Clark,—
June 9, 1901, May 18, 1902, May 16, 1903, May 18, 1905,
May 23, 1906, Sept. 1, 1908.

The following extract from a letter of Mr. W. E. Balch,
written Dec. 17, 1908, is also of interest in this connection, ‘I
have just found the date, or note, referring to the Connecticut
Warbler that you have at the Museum. I shot it Sept. 14, 1905
in some low willows on the brook just below my place here in
Lunenburg. Do not remember as I told you that I saw another
one the past season here, the first week in September, but I had
neither my gun nor my camera soI have no further proof, but as
I watched it some time there was no mistake.”

THE EVENING GROSBEAK.

Cocothraustes Vespertinus.

BY MES SGV HeICORN

On February 21, 1909, two Evening Grosbeaks, came
into a box elder tree near my window. ‘They seemed very
fearless and remained in the tree feeding on the seeds a sufhi-
cient length of time so that there was no room left for
doubt as to their identity, though it did seem too good to
be true that these beautiful birds which are rarely seen in the
eastern part of the United States should suddenly appear in Ver-
mont. he birds stayed about different trees in the neighbor-
hood for several hours. A friend to whom I telephoned, Mr.
G. W. Kirk, came out and observed them also. Previous to this,
on February 12, a strange bird which I feel sure was the female
of this species came into the same tree. ‘This bird lacked the
brilliancy of the two which appeared later, but possessed the
same general characteristics and in every way corresponded ex-
actly to the description of the female given in Chapman’s Birds
of Eastern North America.

Later, with several other people, [ saw small flocks of Eve-
ning Grosbeaks in different parts of the city, being observed un-
til March 14. At one time I counted nine on the same tree.
So far as [am aware, this is the first record of the Evening
Grosbeak in Rutland. There is, I believe, a record of their ap-
pearance in the vicinity of Burlington in 1890.

VERMONT BIRD CLUB 9

MY SECOND ATTEMPT TO COLONIZE THE
PURPLE MARTIN.

BY WILLIAM. ‘C. HORDON:

Last spring [ again tried to re-establish the colony of Purple
Martins which once thrived in my bird houses in Brattleboro, but
the experiment was as complete a failure, as faras I can learn,
as was my attempt the year previous. In 1907 I tried to raise
Purple Martins by putting a setting of eggs, secured from J.
Warren Jacobs, Waynesburg, Pa., under the Tree Swallows then
nesting in my bird houses. This proved a complete failure as
toid in the last Bulletin of the Club. Last year Mr. Jacobs
kindly sent me two pair of yearling martins from his large colony,
using every precaution to have them arrive safely. Although
everything that I could think of was done to insure their staying
in my bird houses, they flew away and did not return.

Mr. Jacobs selected two pair of birds that had already mat-
ed and were beginning to build their nests in his bird houses.
They were shipped by express in a commodious box with food
and water and arrived in Brattleboroin apparently good condition
after their journey of 500 miles or more.

My bird houses had been prepared for their occupancy by a
thorough cleaning and a screen door had been arranged over the
entrance to their home to keep them in a short time until they
had become used to their surroundings. I placed the birds in the
bird house about 3 o’clock on the afternoon of their arrival.
They were then strong and vigorous, fighting some among them-
selves at first. I had provided an abundant supply of insect food
inthe house, not knowing positively that they would eat in this
manner as their habit is to take food on the wing.

The following morning I went out at 3.40 o’clock, just as
the other birds were beginning to sing, and pulled the string that
worked the screen door. It fell tothe ground noiselessly, not
in the least disturbing the martins, Secreting myself where they
could not see me, I began to watch for their appearance. A few
minutes after 4 o’clock one of the martins, a male, went out of
the door of his new home like a bullet, and without stopping to
look about him went across a small pond and out of sight. I
was uncertain whether the bird went into the woods on the op-
posite side of the pond or continued on a long flight as the habit

10 BULLETIN 4 and 5

of the martin is to fy with a downward swoop and then rise
to a high altitude.

Three minutes later another martin, also a mae, left the
house with the same speed and lack of ceremony.

OTHER MARTIN COLONIES.
BY=W. ‘C) BORTON.

The questions I asked last year through the Bulletin about
the Purple Martin were answered very satisfactorily. I received
a report from Mr. C. D. Howe, saying there was a colony at
Essex Junction and Burlington.

Mrs. Alice S. Brown of Starksboro reported a colony in
that town, Ferrisburgh, Middlebury, North Hero, and Burling-
ton. Nelly Hart Woodworth reported two colonies at St. Al-
bans. Miss Susan E. Clark of St. Johnsbury reported a colony
at Lyndonville.

From this information, I can plainly see that nearly all the
Purple Martins are west of the Green Mountains in Vermont,
only one colony being reported from the east side. This also
shows that the martin migration northward to their summer
home is undoubtedly up the west side of the mountains. If this
is the fact I presume none will migrate this side of the state un-
til more colonies are established east of the mountain range. I
am of the opinion that the colony in Lyndonville crossed over
there from some of the colonies on the west side of the northern
part of the state.

I am informed that there were several colonies of Page
Martins nesting last summer in New England, by which it appears
that they are increasing and may reach het normal number
again, as before the great loss of martins in the year of 1903.

I have reports of colonies at Augusta, Oakdale, Smithfield
Belgrade and other towns in Kennebec County, Maine. Also in
Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut, and in the south-
ern part of New Hampshire, the martins are returning slowly,
taking up the old abandoned homes.

I again wish to renew my request as given in the last Bul-
letin, restricting reports to the east side of the state. Anyone
who knows of a nesting colony of Purple Martins on the east
side of the state will please report the same to the secretary of
the Bird Club or to myself.

VERMONT BIRD CLUB 11

BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY.
BY FRANK S. HOAG.

In regard to photographing birds, I will try to tell some-
thing about the kind of camera to use and some of the ways and
means of approaching birds in order to make good exposures.

Mr. Chapman states that if we are limited to the use of a
single camera, it should be of the reflecting type. If limited to
one lens, he recommends one with an eight inch focal length, its
two components having each a focal length of fourteen inches.
He uses bellows fifteen inches long, and 4x¢ plates.

Mr. Lottridge recommends, in addition, a reversible back,
falling front, swing back, and particularly a strong and steady
platform. He recommends a long-focus lens, large because the
center of the lens is then used, thus securing better work in less
time. ‘The long focus gives a large image with comparatively
less distortion. Very light plate holders should not be used, be-
cause they will not stand sunlight. The tripod, if one is used,
must be strong and stable. A tilting tripod top is of great value.
An outfit sufficiently stable in every way is rather heavy, but it is
the only one suitable for all around work. The use of the tele-
photo lens is very limited. It gives from 2 to 6 diameters magni-
fication, but more time is required for exposure.

A camera with the best appliances is of no use unless one
can get within photographing range of the birds under fairly good
conditions for making exposures. T’o accomplish this end, blinds
which can be set un in favorable locations and occupied com-
fortably for hours at a time, seem to be an absolute necessity.
If one wishes a blind that can be ready for use at any time, it
should be of a kind easily transportable, inconspicuous as_possi-
ble, and simple enough to be erected quickly. It need not nec-
essarily be like some object in nature, but it is well to have it
disguised with bushes or vines. Immovability when erected is
the chief virtue of a good blind for any movement of it will make
birds suspicious. The blind that Mr. Chapman uses is made of
a leaf-green umbrella having a metal tube handle with a ventilat-
ing hole in the top; two other metal tubes of the same length as
the umbrella handle; a piece of denim, 6x10 feet, sand or earth
colored, dyed leaf-green at the top forabout one third of its
width and fading gradually to its original color at about the mid-
dle. The ends are joined and sewed together for a short dis-
tance at the top around which a strong cord is run for the pur-
pose of drawing the top together sufficiently for it to hang on the

12 BULLETIN 4 and 5

umbrella. The cord is long enough to serve as a guy rope. It
is well in such a blind to run belts of braid about the covering,
sewing them to it at intervals, thus forming loops into which
when desired, reeds or branches may be thrust.

I have never used blinds myself in the little bird photogra-
phy that [have done. I have always placed the camera on a
tripod, focused it upon the nest of the bird to be photographed
and made the exposure by springing the shutter from a distance,
when the bird returned to the nest, by means of a string attached
to a simple trigger. This released a lever upon which a stretch-
ed rubber band was drawing. I have read of an arrangement
by which the shutter could be sprung by the attraction of the re-
lease lever of a magnet. The magnet was placed beneath the lever
and connected with a small battery by means of wire conductors.
Closing the circuit at the battery would cause. the magnet to
draw the levers down, thus releasing the shutter. I have also
seen a picture of a camera equipped with a long rubber tube
with a bicycle pump for forcing air through it.

Photographing birds is not at all easy work. It requires
time, patience and ingenuity, but the results attained are well
worth the effort.

BIRD NOTES FROM ST. JOHNSBURY.
BY INEZ A. HOWE:

The summer of igog to me was the richest in rare bird
finds of any of the sixteen seasons that I have made a study of
these feathered friends of ours.

It never was my good fortune to hear the song of the
White-crowned Sparrow, zonotrichia leucophrys, until on May
17, 1909. I have watched the spring and autumn migrants for
many years but never saw or heard one sing before. In driving
from St. Johnsbury East to Concord on the date mentioned,
about 5 o’clock in the afternoon, I saw flocks of these birds in
company with Canadian Warblers, sy/vania canadensis, when
suddenly a plump male White-crowned Sparrow alighted upon a
fence and poured forth his soul in an ecstasy of delight, only
rivaled by his cousin, the Song Sparrow.

On May 29, while driving through St. Johnsbury Center,
I discovered perched on a telegraph wire a peculiar bluish bird
which regaled us with a sweet song unmistakably the song of a

VERMONT BIRD CLUB 13

warbler. With the aid of Chapman’s Hand Book and a power-
ful field glass, we identified the bird as the Caerulean Warbler,
dendroica caerulea. ‘\here was a pair of them. They seemed
weary from flight, and were pluming their feathers. We identi-
fied them beyond a doubt and verified our discovery by the
mounted specimens at the Fairbank’s Museum.

HARTLAND SPARROWS.
BY MRS: MARY’B. "GATES:

An extract of a paper read before the Hartland Nature Club.

Someone has said that the sparrows were like the poor in that
we have them always with us. The sparrow family is the
largest of our feathered friends containing 550 species, one sev-
enth of all our birds, and is represented in all parts of the world,
except the Australian regions. Of these North America claims
no less than thirty-three genera and one hundred and eighty-nine
species and sub-species. What is the reason for this large num-
ber of sparrows? Our president recently gave us a very inter-
esting paper on Protective Coloration. Now, many members
of this prolific family are clothed in dull brown and gray-streaked
feathers which harmonize wonderfully in color with the grassy,
bushy roadsides which they frequent. It may be that protective
coloration causes them to be overlooked by their enemies. [ often
counted in October twenty-five or thirty sparrows quietly feed-
ing on the lawn, and so quiet were they, if I had not been look-
ing for them, they would have escaped my notice. There are
members of this family however, which are noted for their ex-
ceptionally beautiful and striking plumage.

The Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Blue Grosbeak, Cardinal, In-
digo, and Painted Bunting belong to this great family, and they
are very bright plumaged, but not nearly so numerous as the
more plainly clothed members. Others, the Juncos and Towhees,
have their plumage unstreaked, but with masses of different colors
on different portions of the body. In size none of the sparrows
equal the robin, though a few come near it. The English Spar-
row is about the average, twenty species being smaller, twenty
larger, and about twenty like it in size. Their power of song is
quite varied, some sing but little while others are noted songsters.
The canary belongs to this family.

14 BULLETIN 4and5

The sparrows are seed eating birds, although in nesting sea-
son they eat insects and feed them to their young. All the spe-
cies have short conical bills with corners of the mouth abruptly
bent downward. ‘These strong bills are especially adapted for
crushing seeds, and as it is the seeds of weeds upon which they
feed, they do the farmers untold good. Dr. Henshaw estimates
that the seed consumption of the sparrow family results in an
annual saving of one per cent of the value of crops. Hence, the
sparrows alone save the farmers $35,000,090 in one year. How
are such facts obtained? By examination of birds’ stomachs.
If they eat pests, they are blessings, if they eat blessings they are
pests. If you know what a bird eats, you know what he is.

Aside from the economic value of sparrows, there is an-
other relation which these birds bear to us, the aesthetic, of
which I shall now speak. To appreciate this value we must
know the different birds, know them by their plumage, their
form, their song.

I am sure that almost everyone knows the dear little Song
Sparrow that helps to open the season of song in March, and his
voice is one of the last to be heard in the fall. He is easily
known by the stripes on his breast, and the one large spot in the
center.

The Chipping Sparrow is very common, and perhaps the
most domesticated of all. He is smaller than the Song Sparrow
and has a chestnut crown and a white line over the eye. He is
also a common visitor at our door and has been persuaded to
come inside by crumbs placed just over the threshold. He hasa
simple little trill which answers for a song, but which really sounds
more like the buzzing of a locust.

Soon after the Chippy leaves usin the fall, a similar bird but a
larger sparrow makes his appearance coming from the north to
spend the winter. This is the Tree Sparrow. He has a chestnut
crown, two white bars across the wing and an indistinct black
spot in the center of the breast. “These birds live in the winter
entirely upon weed seeds. It is estimated that each bird consumes
about one fourth ounce a day. ‘There were large flocks of them
here last winter and for several weeks before they left for the north
in April, we enjoyed their sweet little songs. Tshey associate
freely with the Juncos and do not hesitate to visit dooryards and
even door steps.

The Vesper Sparrow is a ground living, streaky sparrow with
the bend of the wing chestnut, and the outer tail feathers white
which show distinctly asthe bird flies ahead of you. His song
is quite like the Song Sparrow, but finer and more plaintive. It

VERMONT BIRD CLUB 15

opens with one low note and is followed by two high ones; while
the Song Sparrow usually begins with three notes all of a kind.
Music is an important matter with the Vesper Sparrow, often
singing continuously for half an hour. His vesper service ‘may
be heard at abcut sunset lasting through the twilight hours. He
is often called the Grass Finch.

Another little sparrow that comes to us about the same
time as the Vesper is the Field Sparrow. He is usually to be found
in hill-side pastures. He resembles the Chippy in that he has a
chestnut crown; but if you notice that his bill is flesh colored,
not black, and that he has a whitish ring about the eye and light
colored feet, we shall know at once that he is not a Chippy.
How different his song, clear and sweet, and almost a whistle. I
think it is unusual for them to come near the house, but saw
them last spring on our lawn feeding with other sparrows.

A member of this family which I had the pleasure of seeing
for the first time last May at our first out-door meeting is the
Swamp Sparrow. He has’a chestnut head. Nearly every author
that I have consulted agrees that he is often mistaken for the Song
Sparrow, which seems strange to me, as he has a gray unspotted
breast, so very unlike the Song Sparrow. Another identifying
mark which I noticed, although I do not find it mentioned in
any bird book is the three white bars on the wing which instead
of extending across the wing went lengthwise. I did not hear
his song but Chapman says it is a sweet but rather monotonous
tweet, tweet, tweet, repeated many times and sometimes running
into a trill.

The sparrows that I have thus far mentioned are not conspic-
uous for their beauty, but the two which I shall now mention are
very aristocratic looking birds, the White-crowned and White-
throated Sparrows. The former is a beautiful large brownish
sparrow with head striped black and white, three white and four
black stripes. I wish we might claim him as a summer resident
at least, but he is only a visitor, stopping with usa few weeks as
he journeys to and from his northern home. His song is very
sweet and plaintive which once heard is not easily forgotten.
He makes several calls at our piazza every spring.

About the same size but not so striking a bird is the White-
throated Sparrow or Peabody Bird. He makes his home with us
through the summer. His head has two black and three white
stripes, two of the white stripes being yellow in front; on the
throat is a white patch, also there are two distinct white wing
bars. They have nested many summers in the brush heaps where
the pine trees have been cut. They have a very unusual song.

16 BULLETIN 4 and 5

In Canada, they interpret it as “Sweet, Sweet Canada.” in New
England as “I, | Peabody, Peabody.”

The Fox Sparrow, so called on account of his rusty, reddish
brown coat resembling that of a fox, has a light breast heavily
streaked with brown which causes him to look like a thrush. We
can only claim him asa Hartland Sparrow for a short time in
spring and fall. These birds scratch among the dead leaves for
their food like a miniature hen. Their song is a clear and melo-
dious carol.

The Savanna Sparrow is said by good authority to be found
in Hartland, and ] see noreason why it should not be here as it
breeds from New Jersey and Missouri northward to the Hudson
Bay. Ido not know this bird, so have that pleasure to look for-
ward to.

The last and least is the English Sparrow. In 1851 Brook-
lyn had a great pest in the form of inch worms which were de-
stroying the shade trees. t was at this time that the English
Sparrows were imported, it being haped that they would destroy
the worms thereby saving the trees. “They accomplished their
mission and for atime were made much of. When their true
character become known scientific men in Washington took up
the matter and after the fairest trials decided that not all the
good they do can compensate for the damage done to the farm-
er’s grain fields, to say nothing of their driving away much more
useful and ornamental birds than themselves. Their chief mis-
sion in life seems to be to populate the earth. Their numbers
are as the sands of the sea. ‘To-day the English Sparrow is the
best known and the most thoroughly despised bird in Hartland,
as well as in all America.

WARBLER MIGRATION, 1908.
BY MRS. A. B. MORGAN.

It is quite possible that you may have pictured to your-
selves the delight and joy that would come to you if you could
see the birds of other regions than those with which you are
familiar, but if that privilege has been denied you, it is a satis-
faction to know that in your own state during the month of
May it is possible to witness a flight of warblers that rivals, if
not excels anything similar to it in the United States.

You have only to discover one of the favorite feeding
grounds of warblers in order to enjoy this unusual and thrilling
sight; then fora week or more you can study at close range
these illusive and difficult denizens of the wood.

VERMONT BIRD CLUB 17

On the Billings estate in Woodstock such a feeding ground
exists, and it is difficult to imagine a more ideal environment.
On a little plateau to which winding paths lead, there is a_ lily
pond surrounded by tall spruces. “lhe almost tropical aspect of
this spot was rendered more so by the brilliantly hued warblers
that 1 saw there last May (1909), in greater numbers than [ had
ever seen before anywhere.

Black-throated Green and Magnolia Warblers poised and
darted from these beautiful branches of the Norway spruces,
looking like bits of gold amid the green, pausing long enough in
their search for food to sing ecstatically or to twit a note of
alarm when the intruder approached. ‘These two species were
the most numerous, the tamest and the busiest. “The Black-
burnians which one always sees with a thrill of delight were
there, not in twos or threes but in fives and tens, and the
Parulas, shy and distant as they always are, added their jewel-
like beauty to the scene. The Black and White, Black-throated
Blue and Myrtle kept more in the background, but were very
numerous, while the Blackpoll, Yellow Palm, Cape May, Bay-
breasted, and Nashville were few in number but rare enough to
receive much attention. Among the number was a stranger, a
bird with markings of yellow and black about the head and with
chestnut rump, this was thought to be the Prairie Warbler. The
Yellow Palm Warbler was recorded as early as April 20 and was
still here May 5. The Cape May is a rarely beautiful bird,
its yellow throat and chestnut eye patch, as well as its white
wing bars identifying it, but unlike many warblers, it does not
linger during migration more than a day or two. It was inter-
esting to note how certain species staid on from day to day
while others, restless with the call of their northern homes,
sped swiftly on. In a little more than a weeks time the spruces
were silent save for the whisper of the winds or for the twitter
of a bird that deemed their branches a fit spot for its summer
home.

WARBLERS RECORDED BY THE HARTLAND
NATURE CLUB, 1908.

Black and White, April 28; Nashville, May 6; Tennessee,
Sept. 28; Parula, May 4; Cape May, May 4; Summer, May 3;
Black-throated Blue, May 4; Black-throated Green, May 1;
Myrtle, April 30; Magnolia, May 4; Chestnut-sided, May 17;

18 BULLETIN 4 and 5

Bay-breasted, May 7; Blackpoll, May 4; Blackburnian,
May 4; Maryland Yellow Throat, May 15; Yellow Palm,
April 20; Pine, April 30; Red Start, May 13; Oven Bird,
May 7; Canadian, May 1o.

SOME IDEAL AND UNIQUE NESTING PLACES.
BY SARA E. GRAVES.

Among the fascinations of bird nesting is the occasional
discovery of a freakish selection of building sites. It is well
known that birds return year after year to former haunts, and
often build in the exact spot occupied on previous years. Robin
and Phoebe are, perhaps, the most common examples. A pair of
phoebes built year after year on the end of a board nailed to the
rafters of the sugar house. Each succeeding year a new nest
was built within the old one, until like a pile of cups there
seemed no room for another. In my interest I dislodged this
six-storied structure, and was much gratified when phoebe re-
turned and built another dwelling. This latter grew to the
proportions of the forrner one before the sugar house itself was
torn down.

Every year [ place five pound butter boxes, with a small
square hole in the corner, in the apple trees around the house;
and [ always have my tenants through the rea‘ing of at least
one brood. English Sparrows cannot fly into these as I arrange
them, but they suit the Bluebirds exactly.

Bluebirds or Tree Swallows have occupied for many years one
particular fence post in this neighborhood. The post is a large
knotty stub, ten inches in diameter, hollow from top to bottom
with three entrances, one from the top, one at the base, one
from a protruding knot hole a foot or more from the base. T
nest is quite at the bottom of the cavity.

The men of my family found a new kind of swallow in
the barn; which they called “the bark swallow.” A _ wide strip
of bark had become loosened, but not broken from one of the
rafters that hung down a half yard at least in length. Upon the
smooth side of this the Barn Swallow had placed hernest, and
raised her little ones almost to the state of self support. In due
time the nest was brought in for my inspection, firmly attached
to its foundation strip of bark. It was open as a Robin’s nest
and luxuriously upholstered with feathers.

VERMONT BIRD CLUB 19

A few years ago in a nearby wood where thrushes are
abundant, a Veery selected an unusual site. Nine marsh maples
had arranged themselves in a circle about as large as an ordinary
bird cage. In this circle, on a foundation of last year’s leaves,
[ discovered the thrush and her nestful of eggs.

The most remarkable selection for a nesting site in my obser-
vation was chosen by a Robin a few years ago. A horse rake
was sheltered in an open shed; and when Robin came she pre-
empted the seat of the rake and reared her young undiscovered
by prowling cats or other enemies. Robin very obligingly re-
nounced her claim to the rake beforethe farmer was ready for

haying.

HOW TO DESTROY ENGLISH SPARROWS.

Attention is called to Farmer’s Bulletin No. 383, United
States Department of Agriculture, entitled, How to Destroy
English Sparrows. Among the methods mentioned are destruc-
tion of nests, by concerted action of a community, trapping and
poisoning. They may be trapped by a shallow box covered on
one side by woven wire, placed over grain, lifted up and sup-
ported by a stick eighteen inches long in manner of a deadfall.
A long cord attached to the upperend of the stick is pulled by
the operator in a secluded place when a group of sparrows are
eating the grain under the box. The box will fall more readily
if a loose chip is placed between the end of the stick and the
box.

Where the use of poison is not prohibited by law, it may be
effectively used to reduce the number of sparrows. Of the different
poisons tested, the most satisfactory is strychnia sulphate. It is
easily prepared and acts quickly. Wheat has proved a good
bait as well as an excellent vehicle for administrating the poison.
The grain should be regularly supplied at the baiting stations
until the birds have become accustomed to resort to the place.
A good time to put it out is early in the morning, as the birds
are sure to be hungry for breakfast. The capacity of a sparrow’s
stomach and crop is about 30 kernels of wheat. In deciding the
amount of poisoned wheat to put out at one time, it is well to
estimate the number of sparrows and to allow about twenty
kernels for eachsparrow. Althoughtwo kernels of wheat coated
with the solution have been known to kill a sparrow, six or seven
kernels are required to insure fatal results. Only enough poison
should be put out as is likely to be eaten in one day, as exposure

20 BULLETIN 4 and 5

to moisture reduces its virulence. Furthermore, sparrows that
take less than a fatal quantity, or that become frightened by the
death of their comrades, will forsake a feeding place, if poison
is kept there constantly. It is better, therefore to supply un-
poisoned wheat after each poisoning until the birds have recover-
ed confidence. An important advantage of having several feed-
ing grounds is that they may be used in rotation, the sparrows
forgetting their fear of one while the others in turn are receiving
poison.

A poison inixture that has proved very effective is prepared
as follows: Put one eight ounce of strychnia sulphate into
three. fourths of a gill of hot water and boil until dissolved.
Moisten one and one-half teaspoonfuls of starch with a few
drops of cold water, add it to the poison solution, and heat until
the starchthickens. Pour the hot poisoned starch solution over
one quart of wheat and stir until every kernel is coated. Small
kerneled wheat sold as poultry food, if reasonably clean, is_pref-
erable to first quality grain, being cheaper and more easily eaten
by the sparrows. A two quart glass fruit jar is a good vessel to
mix in, as it is easily shaken and allows the condition of the
contents to be seen. If the coated wheat be spread thinly on a
hard flat surface, it will be dry enough for use in a short time. It
should be dried thoroughly if it is to be put into jars and kept
for future use. Dishes employed in preparing the poison may
be safely washed.

The poisoned wheat should be well scattered. A few spar-
rows get only enough strychnine to paralyze them. ‘Therefore
visit the feeding places often. Remove dead birds often to avoid
exciting suspicions of the others. The best time to put out the
poison is just after a snowstorm, ‘he feeding place should be
cleared of snow and poison and laid out early in the morning.
Poison should be placed in secluded places safe from poultry,
doves, and other birds. Wheat not eaten by sparrows will be-
come harmless after a few rains.

This Bulletin may be obtained free of cost upon application
to the Biological Survey, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, Wash-
ington, D. C.

BIRD LISTS.

Migration lists for the year 1909 were received from the
following members Mr. G. L. Kirk, Mr. G. H. Ross, and Mr.
and Mrs. C. H. V. Coan of Rutland; Dr. L. H. Ross of Ben-
nington; Miss Marion Bole of West Barnet; Misses Susan and

VERMONT BIRD CLUB 21

Emily Clark of St. Johnsbury; The Hartland Nature Club of
Hartland; Miss Mary L. Sanford of Stamford. We would like
to print all of these lists but space does not permit. Mr. Kirk’s
list includes 137 species, and Dr. Ross’ 136.

BIRD LIST, 1909, RUTLAND AND VICINITY.
BY GEORGE L. KIRK.

The list is printed in the order in which the birds were
seen, figures refer to the day of the month.

January 1, chickadee, hairy woodpecker, downy woodpecker;
10, red-bellied nuthatch, crow, blue jay, redpoll, ruffed grouse;
21, great horned owl; 24, American merganser; February 6,
pine siskin, red crossbill, golden-crowned kinglet; 21, evening
grosbeak, prairie horned lark; 27, white-bellied nuthatch, white
winged crossbill; March 14, snowflake, brown creeper; 18, red-
shouldered hawk; tg, bluebird, sparrow hawk; 20, northern
shrike; 21, pileated woodpecker; 24, red-winged blackbird; song
sparrow; 28, robin; 30, meadow lark, red-tailed hawk; April 2,
bronzed grackle; 6, phoebe, fox sparrow; 10, hermit thrush; 11,
flicker,winter wren, yellow bellied sapsucker, vesper sparrow; 12,
rusty blackbird, black duck; 13, Savanna sparrow, wood duck, tree
sparrow; 18, ruby-crowned kinglet, chipping sparrow, white-
throated sparrow, Wilson’s snipe; 21, kingfisher, yellow redpoll
warbler; 22, cowbird, vesper sparrow; 27, purple martin, Wilson
thrush; May 2, Cooper’s hawk, loon, whistler duck, blue heron,
herring gull, bald eagle, spotted sandpiper, myrtle warbler, tree
swallow, osprey, pied-billed grebe; 4, catbird, American bittern,
swamp sparrow, barn swallow, chimney swift, brown thrasher;
6, long-eared owl, king bird, cliff swallow, black and white
warbler; 7, black-throated-blue warbler; black-throated-green
warbler, bobolink, bank swallow; 8, white-crowned sparrow,
yellow warbler, Maryland yellow throat, solitary vireo, chewink;
g, Baltimore oriole, chestnut-sided warbler, blackburnian warbler,
parula warbler, Nashville warbler, oven bird, redstart, least fly-
catcher, marsh hawk; 10, warbling vireo; 12, solitary sandpiper,
Wilson’s warbler; water thrush; 14, magnolia warbler, wood-
cock, olive-backed thrush; 16, grasshopper sparrow, rose-
breasted grosbeak, red-eyed vireo, great-crested flycatcher,
wood thrush; 18, bay-breasted warbler, yellow-throated vireo;
19, Traill’s flycatcher, humming bird, scarlet tanager, olive-
sided flycatcher, indigo bunting; 20, Canadian warbler, house
wren; 26, wood pewee, night hawk; 28, pine warbler; 31,
blackpoll warbler, cedar waxwing, mourning dove; June 8,

22 BULLETIN 4 and 5

black-billed cuckoo; 19, red-headed woodpecker; July 5, green
heron, long-billed marsh wren, Florida galinule, Virginia rail;
Sept. 20, sharp-shinned hawk; 26, Canadian ruffed grouse;
bluebill duck, American scoter, horned grebe, white-winged
coot; 25, pintail duck, greater yellow legs, surf scoter; 27,
Canada goose; 30, red-breasted merganser, pipit, screech ow];
Nov. 10, Holboels grebe.

BIRD LIST, 1909, BENNINGTON AND VICINITY.
BY DR. He ROSS.

Dr. Ross wasassisted by Mrs. Ross, and Mr. Charles
Hitchcock.

January 1, tree sparrow, red-breasted nuthatch, pine sis-
kin, goldfinch, crow, chickadee, ruffed grouse; 2, blue jay; 4,
downy woodpecker; 6, white- breasted nuthatch, meadow lark; 20,
snow bunting, redpoll; Feb. 8, golden-crowned kinglet, pileated
woodpecker; 11, white-winged crossbill, 12, northern shrike,
kingfisher; 18, junco; 21, red- winged blackbird; 27, bluebird; 28,
white-throated sparrow, bronzed grackle; March 1, song sparrow;
4, great-horned ow]; 8, robin; 10, red-tailed hawk; 18, horned
lark; 20, sparrow hawk; 24, marsh hawk; 28, Am. merganser;
April 1, evening grosbeak, swamp sparrow; 2, hermit thrush; 4,
phoebe, fox sparrow, vesper sparrow, red-shouldered hawk, win-
ter wren, brown creeper, cowbird; 6, Savanna sparrow; 8, flick-
er; 9, chipping sparrow; 11, yellow-bellied sapsucker; 13, purple
finch; 16, tree swallow; 17, hairy woodpecker; 18, palm warbler,
ruby-crowned kinglet; 19, field sparrow; 23, white-eyed vireo;
30, osprey; May 2, cedar waxwing; 3, greater yellow legs,
barn swallow, spotted sandpiper; 4, myrtle warbler; 5, warbling
vireo, least flycatcher; 6, chimney swift, bobolink; 7, black
and white warbler, kingbird, yellow warbler, cliff swallow, white-
crowned sparrow, blackburnian warbler; 8, oven bird, olive-
backed thrush, wood thrush, black-throated blue warbler, black-
throated green warbler, Baltimore oriole, Maryland yellow-throat,
Wilson’s thrush, catbird, rusty blackbird; 9, brown thrasher,
chewink, Wilson’s black-cap warbler, chestnut-sided warbler,
parula warbler, red-eyed vireo; 11, Am. bittern; 12, redstart,
bank swallow, Nashville warbler, magnolia warbler; 14, rose-
breasted grosbeak, rough-winged swallow, water thrush, soli-
tary sandpiper; 15, indigo bunting, wood pewee; blue-headed
vireo; 16, prairie-horned lark, black-po]l warbler; 17, hum-
ming bird; 18, scarlet tanager; 19, alder flycatcher, bay-breast-

VERMONT BIRD CLUB 23

ed warbler, Canadian warbler; 21, quail; 23, black-crowned
night heron, yellow-throated vireo, least sandpiper; 25, wood-
cock; 26, black-billed cuckoo; 28, grasshopper sparrow, Hens-
low’s sparrow; 30, sharp-shinned hawk; June 2,whippoorwill;
30, broad-winged hawk; July 5, house wren; g, yellow-billed
cuckoo, pine warbler; 11, red-headed woodpecker; 12, upland
plover; August 2, green heron; 3, pied-billed grebe; 4, blue
heron; 11, Cooper’s hawk; 12, Virginia rail; 24, night hawk;
September 12, lesser yellow legs, pigeon hawk; 18, mallard,
screech owl; October 29, barn owl], long eared owl; 30, Ameri-
can scoter; November 7, northern raven; 22, black duck.

Dr. Ross appends the following as unusual or exceptional
observations: meadow larks remaining all winter; white-winged
crossbills in Bennington; a flock of over thirty evening gros-
beaks remaining from April 1 to 20; a black-crowned night
heron, one individual observed on three different days; Henslow’s
Sparrow, a pair observed many times, but unable to locate nest;
barn owl, one shot; American scoter, seven were shot on Lake
Paran, North Bennington and some were mounted; northern ra-
ven, one shot by Mr. Ira Adams of North Bennington, has been
mounted and is now owned by him.

BIRD NOTES.

In a letter to the secretary, Mr. F. G. Floyd of West
Roxbury writes: ““You may be interested to learn of a rare bird
we detected in your state two years ago, (1908), at Wilmington
just below the peak of Haystack Mountain and at the shore of
the pond there. I observed a small number of Cerulean
Warblers while alone on a botanical trip. At that time the bird
was not knownto me but the blue bird of small size assured me it
was something uncommon. The next day my wife accompanied
me to the same locality and we were fortunate in observing and
getting a good close view with our glasses of another individual
that Mrs. Floyd identified as that species. This bird is not
listed in Chapman’s Warblers from Vermont. When we dis-
covered that we were not so sure of our identification and _par-
ticularly as our old friend, Mr. Purdie, a veteran bird man, was
rather inclined to distrust it. I was considerably surprised
when on casually looking over the list of birds in Thompson’s
Vermont, (1853), to find this bird given as a Vermont bird.
I shall be pleased to know if you have any other records of it in
your state.

24 BULLETIN 4 and 5

The following is an extract from a letter from Mrs. Alice
Hall Walter of Providence, R. I.: ‘In looking over A Pre-
liminary List of Vermont Birds, (1901), I find the Tufted Tit-
mouse, parus bicolor, as a ‘not common resident.’ Could you
give me the records of its actual occurrence in Vermont, as no
doubt it is a rare species so far north, and has been found in tew
localities. Being Vermonters by birth Mr. Walter and
myself are greatly interested in your valuable list, the data of
which we have tabulated for ready reference.”

Mrs. Alice S. Brown writes that an albino English Sparrow
was raised on her premises. It had red eyes and every feather
was pure white. It was a great curiosity and a conspicuous
mark, as it remained about the buildings two months before it
disappeared. A meadow lark came to Mrs. Brown’s lunch
table on Feb. 4, 1909.

Mr. J. Henry Potter of West Rutland speaks of the bene-
ficial effect of posting large tracts of land in his vicinity, some
7,000 acres in all. Birds as well as game have increased on
thesetracts; The posting of land should be encouraged. It
saves many useful birds from the hands of hunters, as many
hunters are in the habit of shooting small birds while looking for
larger game. Mr. Potter reports seeing a robin on Jan. 6,
1910, and hearing a purple finch sing on Christmas Day.

Mrs. Nelly Hart Woodworth of St. Albans added two new
birds to her list in 1908. The American Three-toed Wood-
pecker, picoides americanus. She studied the bird closely with
field glasses and is sure of her identification, distinguishing it
from the Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker. The other bird was
Lincoln’s Sparrow, melospiza lincolni, observed by her at dif-
ferent times during the summer. She describes its song as ‘‘a
regular theme repeated over and over reminding one of the pur-
ple finch and also of the wren, but unlike either.”

Mr. G. H. Ross of Rutland has also both of these birds
on his list.

Mr. George L. Kirk of Rutland shot a Ringed-neck Duck,
caythya collaris, at North Ferrisburg on Lake Champlain,
Nov. 9, 1908. In fifteen years duck hunting on the lake he
has never before seen a bird of this species which is not common
anywhere. It is not given in Perkins’ and Howe’s List of Ver-
mont Birds.

Another bird to be added to this list is the King Eider Duck,
somateria spectabilis, shot by Mr. Kirk at North Ferr burg,
November, 1904. The specimen is now mounted at the Geo-
logical Hall, Albany, N. Y.

VERMONT BIRD CLUB 25

Dr. L. H. Ross of Bennington reports seeing the Common
Murre, ura triole, and also the Piping Plover, aegialitis meloda.
Dr. Ross also reports a wintering robin, and wintering meadow
larks, seeing twelve of the latter on Jan. 12, 1909.

A pair of Blue Jays built their nest and reared their young
undisturbed in a balsam tree within two feet of the sidewalk
and near the main entrance of the Baptist church at Essex
Junction.

A pair of Scarlet Tanagers nested last summer in an oak
tree on a lawn in the village of Essex Junction.

Mourning Doves have been seen by Mr. C. D. Howe dur-
ing the past three summers in the towns of Colchester and Essex.

In June, 1907, Mr. Howe found a Robin’s nest placed on
the ground with its top flush with the surface.

In the summer of 1909, a King Bird’s nest was observed
containing four eggs, attached to an eaves spout, directly over
the entrance of the church at Lake Willoughby.

Mrs. H. A. Hall of Rutland has sent to the secretary
photographs of Bluebirds and nest, in a starch box covered with
birch bark, and nailed to the side of the house. Why may not
other members emulate her example in sending photographs of
birds to be kept in the posesssion of the Club?

Mr. Hall in speaking of means for protecting birds from
their enemies suggests that a tax be placed upon cats as they are
known to destroy many birds, and also as it isnow well under-
stood that cats carry disease from one person to another. He
also suggests that a bounty be placed upon the heads of English
Sparrows as a means of increasing useful song birds.

Miss Marion Bole of West Barnet reports the appearance
of the Wood Thrush in that town.

Mr. Carlton D. Howe is collecting information in regard
to early bird students in Vermont, early bird lists, collections of
birds eggs, skins, and mounted specimens, and records about
birds occurring before the organization of the Vermont Bird
Club. He appeals for the assistance of the members of the Club
to this end. Many lists of birds have been printed in local news-
papers throughout the state. He wishes aid in locating such.
Any information along these lines will be greatly appreciated.

It has been suggested by several members that a life mem-
bership be established upon the payment of a certain amount,
such fees to be used as an endowment. The sums suggested
for life membership are $10, $12, and $15. Some action will be
taken upon this matter at the winter meeting.

6 BULLETIN 4 and 5

No Bulletin was issued forthe year 1909. The 1909 ma-
terial is combined with this Bulletin. Therefore, this Bulletin
is numbered 4 and 5.

The winter meeting of 1909 was held at Middlebury, Jan.
22 and 23; the summer meeting was held in Burlington and on
Lake Champlain including Ausable Chasm, July 6 and 7. The
winter meeting of 1g10 was held in Burlington, Jan. 21 and 22,
the summer meeting at Woodstock, July 4, 5, and 6.

THE AMERICAN BIRD BANDING ASSOCIATION.

On December 8, 190g, there was organized in New York
City the American Bird Banding Association, the object of
which is “the banding of birds and the recording of accurate
data on their movements.” ‘The formation of this society was
the outgrowth of a movement whick was started in 1908 by the
New Haven, Connecticut Bird Club, having in mind the study
of the movements and migrations of wild birds by means of metal
bands. ‘These bands bear an address and a serial number, the
inscription reading “NOTIFY THE AUK, NEW YORK.” When
a bird is banded a record is made of the number of the
band, and the species of the bird on which it is used, as well as
the date and place of banding. Should this bird ever fall into
anyone’s hands, it is hoped that as a result of the inscription on
the band a notification will be sent to the AUK, together with
a record of the number. In this way accurate data may be
obtained of the movements of zmdividual birds, a thing which is
not possible by the ordinary methods of studying migration. ‘The
bands are distributed to interested persons throughout the
country, who use them as opportunity offers, this being principal-
ly of course, upon young birds which have not yet left the nest.

Most encouraging results have already been obtained. ‘The
work has been extended uitil now it is national in character.
It is hoped now that enough interested persons will become
members so that their dues of one dollar a year will supply the
needed funds. An appeal is therefore made to all persons who
are interested in birds, and especially in that great mystery of
bird life—migration—to aid in the solution of its problems by
joining this Association. Members will receive free a copy of
the annua! report of the Executive Committee, and such other
literature as may be issued.

VERMONT BIRD CLUB 27

For the benefit of any who may fear that the prosecution
of this work may be detrimental to bird life, it should be stated
that the Association is thoroughly in sympathy with the con-
servative efforts of the Audubon Societies of this country. The
shooting of birds for the recovery of the bands is no way a part
of the scheme. As a guarantee of good faith it may mentioned
that the present membership includes not only many of the fore-
most members of the American Ornithologists’ Union but also
leaders of the Audubon movement in America.

Applications for membership and remittances of dues should
be sent to Mr. C. J. Pennock, Kennett Square, Pa. Persons
interested in the banding and caring to assist in this part of the
work should address Dr. Leon J. Cole, College of Agriculture,
University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis.

The secretary of the Bird Club distributed some of these
bands at the last winter meeting, and will gladly furnish such to
other members who wish to use them. He will be pleased to
answer questions in regard to the matter.

28 BULLETIN 4 and 5

LIST OF ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THE VERMONT
BIRD CLUB

(Revised to Jan. I, 1911.)

The number after the name indicates the year of joining.
Charter members are indicated by a star.

Mrs. Joseph Auld, ’06

Mr. John E. Allen, ’07
Mrs. John E. Allen, ’og
Mrs. Laura L. Ainsworth,’ 1o
Mrs. Joseph M. Ayers, ’10
Miss Marion Bole, ’o2

Mr. Ezra Brainerd, *

Mr Rk. Gabrock.. 62

Mrs. Helen H. Bixby, ’o2
Mrs. M. H. Buckham, 703
Rev. S. P. Brownell, 04
Mr. Allan Bourn, ’04

Mr. Frank Brooks, ’07

Mrs. Frank Brooks, ’07
Mrs. Louise V. Brainerd, ’07
Mr. William Barclay, ’07
Mr. John Booth, 757

Mr. L. F. Brehmer, ’07
Miss Clara Barton, ’08
Mrs. Josephine Brown, ’08
Mrs. Alice S. Brown, ’08
Mr. E. J. Briggs, ’og

Mr. William Berg, ’og
Miss Grace D. ‘Barclay, ’10
Miss Drusila W. Bailey, ’10
Mr. Howard Blackmer, ’10
Mrs. Franklin Billings, ’10
Miss Susan Clark, ’02

Rev. D. D. Chapin, ’o4
Mrs. A. H. Colton, ’04

Mr. H. L. Chapman, ’08
Mr. Byron Clark, ’08

Prof. M. B. Cummings, ’to
Mr. Edward Connell, ’10
Miss Julia A. Chase, ’10
Mr. €. A. V.Coan, 09

Burlington
Westford
Westford

Williamstown
Bennington
West Barnet
Middlebury
Wells River
Poultney
Burlington
West Barnet
61 Park Ave., Yonkers, Nagy;
St. Johnsbury
St. Johnsbury
Lyndonville
Barre

Barre
Rutland

Burlington

Starksboro

Starksboro

Pittsford
Brandon
Barre

Barre
Bennington
Woodstock
St. Johnsbury
Brandon

Post Mills

Windham

Burlington

Burlington

Northfield

Randolph Center
Rutland

VERMONT BIRD CLUB

Mis: "@. 1. V.. Coan, ’09
Mrs. Elizabeth B. Davenport*
Mr. A. C. Dike,*

Mire Rs VIN. Davis, ’03
Miss Emma E, Drew,’o5
ikev i. Duriee, “Oo
Miss Nellie Day, ’10

Miss Sarah L. Draper, ’10
Miss Adelaide Denton, ’10
Mr. D. Lewis Dutton, ’10
Miss Alice Eaton, ’10

Mr. A. W. Eddy, ’08

Mrs. James Eaton, ’08
Mrs. Nellie F. Flynn*

Miss Ruth Fisher, ’03
Dive. |-Foster, “08

Mire isC.-Farrar, 708

Mr. Washburn Fancher, ’og
Mrs. H. E. Folsom, ’10
Mrs. Frederic Gay, ’02
Wren. Gale, 7O3

Miss Sara E. Graves, ’07
Mr. Dan 3B. Griffin, ’07
Miss Anna M. Granger, ’07
Mrs. C. C. Gates, ’08

Mrs. Stella Goddard, ’og
Mines C. Gates,” 10

Mise il. A; Hall, *o2

ire GC. I> Horton, *02
Mr. Carlton D. Howe*
Mr. Clifton D. Howe*

Mie W . ©. Horton, 03
Miss Hattie M. Hodge, ’03
Miss Mary Hickok, ’03
Mr. W. B. Howe, ’05

Mr. H. S. Howard, 705
Miss Anna Hazen, ’06
Miss Inez A. Howe, ’07
Miss Jean Harris, ’07

Mrs. James Hartness, ’08
Miss Annie M. Holcomb, ’08
Mrs. Carlton D. Howe, ’08
Mrs. W. E. Howard, ’0g
hr G. D. Hazen, “10

29

Rutland
Brattleboro
Bristol
Rutland
Burlington
Burlington
Burlington
Fair Haven

Saratoga Springs, N. Y.

Brandon
Woodstock
Bristol
Burlington
Burlington
Vergennes
Waterbury Center
Burlington

Fair Haven
Lyndonville
Burlington
Rutland
Waterbury

R. F. D., Winooski
East Poultney
North Hartland
Hyde Park
North Hartland
Rutland

St. Johnsbury
Essex Junction

Univ. of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.

Brattleboro
Burlington

Burlington

Burlington

Burlington

White River Junction
St. Johnsbury

East Poultney
Springfield

St. Albans

Essex Junction
Middlebury

White River Junction

30 BULLETIN 4 and 5

Miss Frances Hobart, ’10
Mrs. C. L. Holden, ’10
Mrs. Edwin Hillis, ’10

Mr. Frank S. Hoag, ’1o
Mrs. C. S. Hitchcock, ’to
Mrs. George P. Ide, ’10
Mr. C.oH. Jones, “07

Miss Mary E. Jennison, ’07
Mr. C. S. James, ’09

Miss Nora E. Jacquith, ’10
Mrs. W. J. Jeffers, ’10

Mr. Wyatt Kent, ’02

Mr. Duane Kent, ’02

Mrs. E. C. Kinney, ’05
Mr. G. L. Kirk, ’06

Mrs: Ibe Biekord: "oz

Mrs. N. P. Lovering, ’07
Miss Mary Lawrence, ’08
Mrs. H. W. Lyster, ’10
Mrs. Mary E. Munson, ’03
Miss S. A. Martin, ’03

Mrs. J. P. Marvin, ’04
Mrs. H. M. McFarland, ’06
Mrs. W. B. McKillip, ’06
Mrs. O. I. Morse, ’06

Mr. Thomas J. Mercer, *07
Mrs. W. H. Moore, ’08
Miss Katherine Miles, ’08
Mrs. C. H. Morrill, ’08
Mrs. W. E. Mack, ’og

Mr. Wm. G.S. Mercer, ’09
Mrs: Ips Ev Merritt, “ro
Mrs. George E. Merrill
Mrs. H. A. Noyes, ’04
Mrs. L. H. Noyes, ’o4

Mr. H. A. Noyes, ’06

Mrs. Zella Newall, ’08
Mrs. A. J. Norton, ’10

Miss Carrie W. Ormsbee, ’03

Prof. (G. H. Perkins*
Dre. FE: Perkms,o4
Mrs. W. I. Powers, ’07
Mr: i. L. Piper, 707

Mrs. Agnes M. Paxson, ’08

Cambridge
Bennington
North Montpelier
Grand Isle
Bennington
Lyndon
Burlington
St. Albans
Weybridge
Guildford
Lyndonville
Proctor
Rutland
Greensboro
Rutland
Burlington
St. Johnsbury
Windham
Lyndonville
Manchester
Burlington
Norwich
Hyde Park
Burlington
Royalton
Barre
Woodstock
Brattleboro
Randolph Center
West Woodstock
Barre
Hartland
Woodstock
Hyde Park
Hyde Park
Hyde Park
Essex
Bennington
Brandon
Burlington
Burlington
Lyndonville
Brattleboro
64 Oak St., Lowell, Mass.

VERMONT BIRD CLUB

Mrs. Harland Parker, ’og
Mrs. E. H. Putnam, ’og
Miss Ida S. Pearl, ’og
Miss Jeanette Perkins, ’10
Mr. L. Henry Potter, ’10
Mrs. H. F. Perkins, ’10
Mr. G. H. Ross*

Mrs. F. A. Richardson, ’02
Miss Bridget Rooney, ’03
Mri. H.. Ross, os

Mrs. L. H. Ross, ’04

Mr. Harold Gordon Rugg, ’07
Miss Bessie Rust, ’08
Mr. Willis M. Ross, 708
Mr. John Ritchie, ’08,

Miss Mary T. Randall, ’og
Mir Hel. straw, 02

Mrs. H. E. Straw, 02
Miss Mabel Stevens, ’07
Miss Belle C. Stone, ’07
Miss Mary L. Sanford, ’o7,
Mr. Humphrey Styles, ’07
Mr. W. H. Sabin, ’07
Mrs. A. B. Simonds, ’07
Miss Carrie B. Sibley, ’08
Miss Kate Stewart, ’08
Miss Blanche Sprague, 708
Dr. H. H. Swift, ’o8

Miss Mabel A. Strong, ’og
Mrs. Nora Scofield, ’09

Mr. A. I. Stuart, ’09

Miss Anna Shepard, ’10
Miss Florence Sturtevant, ’10
Miss Abbie E. Smith, ’10
Mirs:G. Hi. Smith, ’ro
Miss Eunice D. Smith, ’02
Mirse E. B. Taft, ’o2

Miss Mary E. Tuttle, ’03
Mrs. He Terry, 703
Miss Phebe Towle, ’06
MM4iss Cora I. Tarbox, ’07
Mr. A. E. Tuttle, ’ro

Mr. C. W. Thompson, ’10

31

Lyndonville
Bennington
Lyndonville
Bennington
West Rutland
Burlington
Rutland
Burlington

St. Johnsbury
Bennington
Bennington
Hanover, N. H.
Burlington
Rutland

14 Whitby Terrace Upham’s Corner,

Boston, Mass.
Pittsford

Stowe

Stowe

St. Johnsbury
Enosburgh Falls

R. F. D. 2. North Adams, Mass.

Burlingtor
Lindsay, Cal
Burlington

North Montpelier
Bristol

Stamford
Pittsford

W codstock

Hyde Park
Middlebury
Burlington
Hartland

East St. Johnsbury
Pittsford

Barre

Burlington
Poultney
Northampton, Mass.
Burlington

Essex Junction
Bellows Falls
Bennington

32 BULLETIN 4 and 5

Mira@ek 7 barbell) ro South Royalton
Mia: )- Farbell, *1o Waterbury
Mrs. J. G. Underwood, ’07 Hartland
Mr. J. G. Underwood, ’og Hartland
Prof. J. W. Votey* Burlington
Mrs. J. W. Votey, 03 Burlington
Miss Elizabeth Van Patten, ’05 Burlington
Miss Katherine Vaile, ’07 Lyndonville
Miss Jennie A. Valentine, ’10 Bennington
Mrs, F. W. Ward, ’03 Burlington
Mrs. Nelly Hart Woodworth, ’03 St. Albans
Miss Lucy White, 705 169 Franklin St., Newton, Mass.
Capt. Stephen Waterman R. F. D. St. Johnsbury
Miss Mary E. Waterman, ’08 Williamstown
Mr. Joseph Wellwood, ’08 Rutland
Mrs. H. S. Worcester, ’08 Mystic, Conn.
Miss Katherine Worcester, ’08 Mystic, Conn.
Rev. F. M. Wilson, ’og Middlebury
Miss Angie F. Willey, ’0g Lyndon Center
Miss Caroline White, ’10 Bennington
Rev. H. E. Weatherbee, ’10 East Poultney
Mrs. H. E. Weatherbee, ’10 East Poultney
Mr. W. Dustin White, ’10 Ryegate
Mr. F-€. Wright; 710 South Londonderry

Other charter members were Mr. Judson B. Ham, Mr. W.
E. Balch, Miss Mary E. Ide, Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Eggleston,
Mrs. William C. Horton, deceased, Mrs. “Isabel Paddock

Carter, deceased.

If any errors or omissions are noted in this list, please
notify the secretary. -

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away tea ees

PS ST

ee

VERMONT BIRD
CLUB

BULLETIN NO. 6
1911

Y

PUBLISHED ANNUALLY
BY THE CLUB

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VERMONT BIRD CLUB

BULLETIN NO. 6

1911

ene

i tude
(* RICHMOND ~ \
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PUBLISHED ANNUALLY
BY THE CLUB

CONTENTS

Officers for 1911

A Seasonal Bird Chart
Mrs. A. B. Morgan, Woodstock

Some Rare Bird Visitors .
Inez Addie Howe, St. Johnsbury

Bird Songs ;
Miss Florence Et Seaitenane Bawe

Bird and Animal Protection .
J. A. Chapin, Middlesex

My Bird Restaurant
Pearl E. aderwood, Hardend

Additions to Rutland County Bird List
George L. Kirk, Rutland

Keep Your Eye on the Cat é
W. H. Phillips, Brattleboro

Birds of Greensboro and Vicinity
Mrs. Florence Kinney

Notes

Birds About Fern Cottage
William C. Horton, Brattleboro

, Bird List for West Barnet

Miss Marion Bole

New Members

PAGE

10

12

14

16

30

OFFICERS OF THE VERMONT
; BIRD CLUB, 1911

President . . . . . . . Proressor G. H. Perkins, Burlington
Vice-President . . . . . . Mr. Harry LL. Presr: Brattleboro
Secretary and Treasurer . Mr. Cariton D. Howe, Essex Junction

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

PROFESSOR J. W. VOTEY. 30 202 wos 6 3G) ae ee
Mrs, ELizABETH B. DAVENPORT . . . . > » . « JSpatelening
Mrs. A. B. Moreaw . 2 : . 1 ws 6
Miss Demia I. GRIFFIN. « | . 2 = + « - 5 = se. [pee
Tre Ty. Hi. ROSS... 8 Pn Se ae I Fk ie

EDITOR OF THE BULLETIN
Mr. H. L. PIPer

‘“The objects of this club shall be: to afford a convenient means of
communication between those persons in the state who are interested in
the study of birds; to collect and preserve information concerning those
species found in the state; to create and encourage an interest in birds;
to promote scientific investigation, and to secure protection for useful
species.”

A SEASONAL BIRD CHART
Mrs. A. B. Morgan, Woodstock

The making of a Seasonal Chart implies that one has
studied birds for a series of years, and has paid special atten-
tion to spring and fall migrations with the idea of making
such a record that observations will be available at a glance.
The use of such a chart is especially opportune for those bird
students in a given locality who need a definite guide, and
may be used with equal facility by a club, a bird class, by a
librarian, or by a teacher. This one which I made for Wood-
stock, Hartland and vicinity, I will briefly explain with the
hope that members of the Bird Club may make similar charts
of their home localities and exhibit them from time to time
at future meetings.

To make the chart, after hewn made the necessary obser-
vations, a sheet of paper 16x24 that is both ruled and
checked, is required—the ruled lines dividing the sheet into
columns that stand for the months, the checks or small divi-
sions in each column standing for weeks. In this chart, two
checks stand for a week, there are twelve columns for the
twelve months, two columns for the names of the birds them-
selves, and two for the names of the orders to which they
belong.

After writing the list of birds according to the arrange-
ment given in any reliable bird book, a ruling pen is used to
draw the horizontal lines opposite each bird’s name to indi-
cate the portion of the year it is here. For example, taking
the first bird on the chart, the bluebird, a line is drawn from
the check indicating March 10, the earliest date I have, to
the check indicating November 17, the latest date. Birds that
are resident have a line drawn full length across the chart,
as for the chickadee; birds that may occur at any time dur-
ing the year and are of varying or uncertain habits have a
broken line opposite their names for a part or the whole of
the year, as the brown creeper, which occurs in early fall
and winter, rarely, but sometimes, in summer, the broken
line, in this case, being for April, May, June, July, August

5

and September. The chart, as it stands today, has a record
for 154 species which, of course, does not represent the full
number for our vicinity ; it does, however, represent all those
for which I can vouch. Some facts which it records may be
of interest.

I have noticed that in years like this one when I had the
early record of March 7 for the song sparrow and March 10
for the bluebird, | had correspondingly early dates for their
departure—November 10 and 12. Two years ago I| had a fall
record of the song sparrow November 24, the spring date
being March 24. After a ten years’ record I find that the
Baltimore oriole and white-crowned sparrow have never
varied more than two days from May 10 and May 12—the
last date for the oriole being almost as constant, averaging
to be August 27. You will doubtless be surprised when I tell
you that I saw the white-crowned sparrow for the first time
this year in its fall migration, the date being October 8. Many
get early dates for the chipping sparrow, but April 16 is the
approximate date as far as I have been able to observe. Dur-
ing the year 1909, I observed the yellow-bellied sapsucker in
every month except January.

I have a single record for the Lapland longspur in January,
the red crossbill in November, the Bohemian waxwing in
March. I have seen the horned lark most frequently in
March or October, the prairie horned lark in July or August.
Last year a pied-billed grebe was taken in February, nearly
two months earlier than it is usually seen in our section, and
this year for the first time the rough-legged or black hawk was
taken November 17. The little green heron and_ black-
crowned night heron have been very abundant this year, the
pileated woodpecker has been reported much more common,
there have been several reports of the red-headed, and one of
the Arctic three-toed woodpecker. Among the uncommon
sandpipers I have the pectoral (September), semi-palmated
(May and September), white-rumped (May and September).

The water birds that doubtless follow along the Connecti-
cut River during the migratory season, I have studied the
least, and it is along this line that I hope to add to the chart.
The work now embodied in it represents the results of ten
years’ study, and in another decade I know that it will need
revising and enlarging. The preparing of it has served as

6

a kind of permanent inspiration to keener and wider obser-
vation. I hope other members of the Bird Club will test the
truth of this statement and will give the results of their work,
if not in this form, then in such a way that a revised list of
the Birds of Vermont may be issued and stand as a record
of accomplishment for the Club.

SOME RARE BIRD VISITORS

Inez Addie Howe, St. Johnsbury

The summer of 1910 was rich in rare bird visitors to St.
Johnsbury. April 10 my attention was attracted by two pe-
culiar sparrows resting by the edge of a marshy spot. I
thought that they were Ipswich sparrows, a species which I
had seen once at the seashore. I followed them for a time
and they took a course due northeast. Later I verified my
suspicions by reference to the mounted specimens at the Fair-
banks museum, and I am perfectly sure we may credit Ver-
mont with them as migrants. I referred the question to Mr.
Charles Maynard. of Newtonville, Mass., who first named the
species, and he wrote me that they may have strayed up the
Connecticut valley and thence up the Passumpsic valley on
their way to Sable Island, Nova Scotia, their only known
breeding ground. Their winter migrations follow the Atlantic
coast as far south as the Carolinas.

During the summer of 1910 I have many dates for meadow
larks, my first observations of this delightful visitor since
1896. His first appearance was at East St. Johnsbury, April
23, and on May 8 I found two pairs on a meadow in Concord,
two miles from East St. Johnsbury. They nested on this
meadow and I saw them repeatedly until after mid-August.
July 15 I saw the two pairs of old ones with several young
feeding on this meadow at twilight, and the males were sing-
ing rapturously. One was seen on a meadow along Moose
River in St. Johnsbury, four miles from the nesting ground,
May 17. I saw a pair June 14 on the meadow in Lyndon
Center, where I first identified them in the spring of 1896,
in company with Prof. J. B. Ham, one of our charter
members.

BIRD SONGS

Miss Florence H. Sturtevant, Barre

One morning in early spring, when the birds were returning
to gladden us with their happy music, I heard a gay little
song of a song sparrow. I looked out, and there, on the
topmost peak of the barn, sat the little singer. He
gave me the song again and again, lifting his head and pour-
ing forth his happiness in its lively melody. After that,
other song sparrows sang their beautiful songs, but none
seemed to have the charm of that first, gay, lilting tune that
announced the approach of the happy summer.

When the year had rolled around, and brought the spring
again, there came another bright morning, when my attention
was arrested instantly by that familiar song again. Look-
ing out, I saw my little friend sitting on his favorite perch,
the roof of the barn, singing his song over and over, for my
sole benefit. But after a while he changed the melody, and
showed me that that was not the only song he knew, giving
a song in a different key, and in different time.

All that summer he sang near the house and garden. Next
year I listened for him in vain, but one day I did hear him
at the house of a neighbor. The next year he came to a
hillside pasture near a swamp not far away. I could always
recognize him by his song.

For the past four years I have taken delight in writing
down the songs of some of our common birds. From the
song sparrows alone | obtained, the first spring, a dozen dif-
ferent songs, not even going out of the house to do so, but
taking those that came from the garden and near by, and
locating the pitch by the piano, and then writing down the
song. This was before I had ever read any book on bird
music. Soon afterward I read Schuyler Mathews’s ‘Field
Book of Wild Birds and their Music,” and the reading of that
book helped me to a better appreciation of bird music.

To quote from this book: ‘There are two things to consider
in the study of bird music, time and tune. Various birds

8

sing in different keys, and in different measures of time.”
“Every species follows it own unalterable law in rhythmic
time, no matter how different are the songs of individuals.
This principle is the key to an immediate recognition of the
singer.” “The easiest explanation of a rhythmic beat is the
drum-beat. Any child would recognize this rhythm. The
rhythm of the whip-poor-will never varies, no matter how
varied the pitch of the tones.”

In speaking of compass, Mr. Mathews says: “Birds’ voices
are pitched so high that most of them are somewhere within
the compass of the highest octave on the piano, and many
of them, as in the case of the warbler, continue to the other
side of the woodwork.”

I do not consider myself a whistler, nor a bird imitator,
but I will try to give you the melody of the songs which I
have obtained, without attempting to reproduce the quality of
the voices of the birds. All of the following songs I ob-
tained from the birds themselves, and none of them are
identical with those in any book that I have seen, which
proves how infinite is the variety.

The one which we shall soon hear, the love song of the
chickadee, is considered by some writers to be the purest
music on earth. I have secured records of the songs of
other birds, as follows: Bluebird, oriole, rose-breasted gros-
beak, red-eyed vireo, and robin, eight songs; a group which
I call conversational songs, because they are composed of
short snatches; white-crowned sparrow; peabody bird, six
records; warbling vireo, purple finch; call of the goldfinch,
pewee, red-winged blackbird, meadow lark, eleven records ;
Maryland yellowthroat, spotted sandpiper, hermit thrush,
vesper sparrow, four records; field sparrow, and about four-
teen distinct songs of the song sparrow, besides others that
seem to be only variations of the same songs.

In these songs I do not find that Mr. Mathews’s rule, of
each species following its own particular rhythm, alw ays holds
good. It is generally supposed that the song sparrow starts
with two or three long, loud, clear tones. I have four songs
that have that characteristic, and two that do not start in that
way.

On day I heard two song sparrows singing in antiphonal

9

style—that is, one answering the other—both in the same
key, and the same time, and in harmony so that the two
might have been sung together.

From the foregoing observations it may be seen that a
good beginning has been made in the study of bird songs,
but there are great possibilities in this unfamiliar field. It
is a pity that the artistic accomplishments of these little
musicians are lost on the deaf ears of so many of us. As
Mr. Mathews says: “It is not one vast mediocre chorus; it
is an endless variety of soloists, whose voices make up the
orchestra which performs every year the glad spring sym-
phony.”

BIRD AND ANIMAL PROTECTION

J. A. Chapin, Middlesex

If I were writing from the standpoint of a game warden |
should have used the term, “Game Protection,’ but I am not
so writing. I believe there are other economic reasons for the
protection and propagation of birds and animals besides that
of furnishing sport in their killing. Man is waging a never-
ending warfare on the lower creatures for food, clothing, etc.,
but he need not carry this to the point of wanton slaughter.
Different species of animals, as well as birds, prey upon each
other, but this is no justification for man exercising unreason-
able dominion over all of earth’s creatures by reason of his all-
powerful skill and intelligence. The woods would be dull and
lacking in some of their chief attractions if the birds and
animals were not there. It seems to me that only when birds
or animals become distinct menaces to the well-being and com-
fort of mankind are we justified in making a wholesale war-
fare on them.

The common birds which are our everyday companions are
generally protected by law as well as custom. It is well to
foster and build up a sentiment for this custom of leaving the
robin, the bluebird, the phoebe and the chickadee and all the
rest immune from the attack of bad boys, cats and pot-hunt-

10

ing Italians. It is well to encourage the interest in the habits
of birds, their home building and nesting, their long migra-
tions, especially those birds which stay with us throughout
the year. How we should miss them all, if by reason of lack
of protection or lack of public sentiment favoring such pro-
tection any should be exterminated. What could be more
companionable to a lonely woman in a lonely farmhouse than
a pheebe building its nest on a convenient shelf not eight feet
from the kitchen window? From the arrival of the first par-
ticle of mud to the time when the fledglings were crowding
each other from the nest for their first flight, my daughter
watched a pair in their home-making last spring, while busy
about her own household work. What a pity it would have
been to have disturbed them in their building or to have al-
lowed anyone to do so. And what an opportunity to watch
their habits!

An old blue heron took up his abode last summer on a
small brook running past my sugarhouse. He came there
almost every day and spent his time fishing or catching tad-
poles. If disturbed he would flap heavily away only to return
on the morrow. The boys made several attempts to shoot
him until I vetoed it. I became so attached to the lonely crea-
ture that I would as soon have thought of having a calf or
sheep shot for the fun of it.

One of my boys caught two gray squirrels in the cornfield
in the fall. After keeping them as pets a short time we let
them go, but instead of being shy, they came back to the
cornbarn for an ear of corn every day or two in the early
winter. I had not the heart to have them shot for their petty
thieving, which really amounted to but little, and nuts were
scarce.

In all our laws for game protection I think we should mix
a little touch of humanity; a good deal more live and let live
in our treatment.

The annual summer meeting of the Bird Club was held at
Brandon, July 6 and 7. The attendance was diminished some-
what on account of the intense heat of the first day. However,
several people climbed Mt. Horrid. On the second day a larger
number visited Crystal Lake and vicinity. Eight new members
were added to the club.

11

MY BIRD RESTAURANT

Pearl E. Underwood, Hartland

Five or six years ago I began to feed the birds in winter.
First I hung out a piece of suet to attract them, then a few
crumbs and seeds were scattered about on the ground, next
a shelf was attached to the piazza post where we placed a
dish filled with seeds, nuts, crumbs and different kinds of
cereals. I became interested in the book, “How to Attract
and Protect Wild Birds,’ by Martin Hieseman, and from it
received many ideas in improving and enlarging my bird res-
taurant. We now have a long, broad shelf fastened to the
side of our piazza, placed where we can reach it from the
doorway of the house. A branch of a dead tree is nailed to
the edge of the shelf and here the suet is hung. At one end
of the shelf a box about a foot square is placed, one end of
which is open so the birds may enter; the top and one side
have glass to lighten it within.

Here the seed, crumbs and other food are safe from the
snow and sleet of winter, and are kept dry and unhurt by
the heavy rains. At the opposite end of the shelf a piece of
wire netting is fastened to protect its being approached by
those for whom the food is not intended. One night, how-
ever, | was awakened by a noise which suggested burglars,
but in the dim moonlight I could see a dog walking about
below the place where the shelf is fastened. It was morning
before I could wholly solve the mystery of my midnight
marauder, or learn the havoc which he had wrought—then I
found the birds’ branch on the ground and the suet was
wholly eaten off. I had not really entertained an angel una-
wares, but had unintentionally given a hungry dog a good
meal which he had fully appreciated. Several times a squir-
rel has come to taste the suet and to carry away a few nuts;
aside from these two visitors, my birds have been safe.

Here I will say a good word for my cat. He may be an
exceptional one, but he is so well trained and so well fed
that he rarely catches a bird at any season of the year; the
winter birds especially he knows are not for him. He enjoys
watching them from the window, and if at times his eyes have

12

a wistful expression, he is too wise to even try to capture
them.

In the garden, near by, we have some evergreen branches
placed in the ground to form a little grove; here the birds
come for shelter and to feed on the suet which is hung there.
As I write, a chickadee comes to the shelf; he has helped
himself to the suet, taken a shelled peanut in his little bill
and is off to a near-by tree to enjoy eating it. The other
birds which patronize our restaurant are as follows: white
and red-breasted nuthatches, blue jay, junco, tree sparrow,
hairy and downy woodpeckers, and the pine siskin. One
April day, after a heavy snowstorm, a song sparrow, which
had just arrived, joined with the winter birds to find seeds
and other food. When they reached the place where our good
things were set out for them this dear little bird was so over-
whelmed with joy that I am sure he composed a new song
for the occasion; it sounded different to me from any other
song I had ever heard. He sang over and over again, “Aren’t
we having a happy time?”

Early one morning a northern shrike stopped in the ever-
green grove, but only for a minute to take a short rest.

It has been argued that birds become spoiled by artificial
feeding and no longer do their work in Nature’s household,
but Dr. Liebe says: “Birds find but a poor substitute, even
in these arrangements which are fitted up with every luxury,
for their natural food in woods, field and gardens, which they
always prefer. This fact explains what the astonished bird
lover often regards as black ingratitude, the sudden deser-
tion, that is to say, of the feeding places when the thaw sets
mn.”

I learn that in every severe winter many birds perish from
want of food and not from cold, as so many people believe.
Birds require feeding during and after certain changes in the
weather, especially during blizzards and intense frost. Care-
ful observation shows that our smaller birds digest their food
so quickly that a few hours of want suffice to destroy large
numbers of them.

The names of Miss Emily Clark of St. Johnsbury and Mrs.
A. B. Morgan of Woodstock were inadvertently omitted in
the list of members printed in the 1910 Bulletin.

13

ADDITIONS TO RUTLAND COUNTY BIRD
LIST

George L. Kirk, Rutland

In 1905, Mr. G. H. Ross of Rutland published a list of
birds observed by him in Rutland county. This included 150
species. Since that time the writer has added twenty-eight
species to the county list. These are largely water birds and
they were not in the original list because Mr. Ross had not
at that time had much opportunity to become acquainted with
the ducks, sandpipers and other birds.which follow our water
courses. The twenty-eight additions follow:

Holboell’s grebe, common migrant on Lake Bomoseen.

Great blue heron, omitted from Ross list by error.

Wood duck, uncommon migrant. Pair bred for a few years
at isolated mountain pond in Chittenden.

Greater scaup duck, uncommon migrant on Lake Bomoseen.

Blue wing teal, uncommon migrant.

White winged scoter, common migrant on Lake Bomoseen.

Goldeneye, common migrant, spring and fall.

White rumped sandpiper, rare migrant.

Lesser yellowlegs, rare migrant, except on Lake Cham-
plain.

Golden eagle, one specimen taken in fox trap in Chitten-
den.

American merganser, common migrant wherever there are
lakes or large streams; occasionally winters.

Red-breasted merganser, rare migrant; one flock, in March.

Yellow redpoll warbler, irregular migrant.

Wilson’s warbler, irregular migrant.

Pine warbler, breeds sparingly wherever there are suitable
groves of pine trees.

Semi-palmated plover, rare migrant; one bird, late May.

Long-billed marsh wren, rare migrant inland although com-
monly breeds further north on Lake Champlain. For some
unaccountable reason it does not seem to breed on a very
favorable looking marsh on Lake Bomoseen.

Ruddy duck, rare migrant.

14

Hudsonian chickadee, two records on Mount Pico, Sher-
burne, altitude about 3500 feet.

Grasshopper sparrow, breeds occasionally in Fair Haven
and Benson, and probably elsewhere in western part of the
county. One record in Rutland and one in West Rutland.

Surf scoter, common migrant on lakes and ponds.

American scoter, uncommon migrant.

Horned lark. Considerable study has been made of this
bird with a view to ascertaining the time of its visits in com-
parison with those of the more southern prairie horned lark.
We find the horned lark to be a rare migrant occurring only
in December, January and in February with flocks of prairie
horned larks which arrive for the season about February 25,
being really our earliest migrant, although not always being
considered a migrant, and remaining until late November.

Horned grebe, very common fall and spring migrant.

Evening grosbeak, flock of nearly twenty birds were seen
about the streets of Rutland from February until May, 1909.
Have no other record for these rare visitors from the
Canadian northwest.

Canada jay. Mr. Ross has twice observed this bird, once on
Mount Killington in Sherburne, and once near the city at 700
feet altitude. Both birds were seen in midwinter.

Least bittern. A Middletown Springs man who had an
exhibit of birds at the Rutland county fair in September,
1910, showed a mounted specimen of one of these birds, which
he said that he shot at a small pond in Castleton, a half mile
from Lake Bomoseen. He stated that a colony had bred
there for years. The writer knows of no other Vermont
record for this bird.

It may not be out of place to mention here that the present
winter has been an unusually good one for northern birds, and
all the ordinary species that come to us from the north in the
cold months have been noted in considerable numbers. The
most notable was a great grey owl which the writer saw on
New Year’s day almost in the city limits. Attention was
called to it by the fluttering and loud cries of a sparrow hawk
in a big tree under which it sat on the ground. Did any Club
member ever see a sparrow hawk in winter? I never did
before.

15

In the National Museum in Washington there is a Phila-
delphia vireo marked “Rutland County, Vermont.” This bird
was not in the 1905 list.

While on Mount Killington March 6, 1910, G. H. Ross and
the writer saw at about 3000 feet altitude a few waxwings
mingled with some redpolls. The birds stopped only a few
seconds in a tree so that positive identification without a glass
was impossible, but at such an altitude at that time of the
year we believed them to be Bohemian waxwings. Neither of
us had seen this bird in Vermont before. Of course, there are
a few records.

KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE CAT
W. H. Phillips, Brattleboro

A few years ago “Country Life in America” contained an
article by Mr. John Burroughs, entitled “Love and War
Among the Bluebirds,” showing that birds fall an easy prey
to cats while battling with each other. The article was very
interesting to me from the fact that a short time previous
to that date I witnessed a peculiar battle beween two female
bluebirds, with a male bluebird as referee. Possibly one
female was fighting a rival for the affections of the male, who
kept hovering about them, uttering his plaintive cry, and
seemingly trying to separate them. The battle occurred about
seven o’clock one morning in April. I am reasonably sure
that two of the birds were a pair that nested the two pre-
vious seasons in a nest I set up in my back yard, and the
other female was an interloper, perhaps smitten with the
handsome blue-coated gentleman, and trying to win his affec-
tions. The battle began around the nest; the females would
meet in the air, when they would clinch and fall to the
ground, lying for a moment like birds shot down with a gun;
then they separated, flying into a large near-by apple-
tree, closely followed by the male still trying to quiet them,
and stop the fighting.

My wife and I were not the only spectators, for as the
battle proceeded we noticed a neighbor’s cat across the gar-

16

den, intently watching and apparently awaiting an opportunity
to pounce upon the combatants while they were on the ground.
I had one eye on the cat and one on the birds. They sud-
denly arose from the apple tree into the air and flew away
from us across the garden, where they clinched again, and
came to the ground. The cat started for them before they
landed, and | started at the same time through mud nearly
ankle deep. The cat came in ahead and caught one of the
female birds. I immediately turned on the cat, chasing her
under her owner’s piazza, and luckily frightening her so that
she dropped the bird just within my reach. On picking the
bird up I found it only shightly injured, but badly frightened—
its little heart was beating like a trip-hammer (and I assure
you mine was thumping just a little bit after my sprint
through the mud).

With the assistance of my wife I arranged a basket, put
the bird into it, and set it just inside the barn above the reach
of cats, leaving the door partially open with sufficient room
for the bird to fly out, but not enough for a cat to get in.
Some time during the day the bird went away, and I hope,
and have reason to believe, that it enjoyed life for a long
time after, and possibly may be alive today. After the battle
the remaining pair occupied the nest, raising two broods that
season. They also came back the following year, and I am
reasonably sure that this same pair occupied the nest for five
seasons in succession, after which they were driven away by
a pair of little house wrens. I may be wrong in my suppo-
sition that this same pair of bluebirds came back to the old
home each year, but it is certainly a very pleasant thought.

The tenth annual winter meeting of the Vermont Bird Club
was held in conjunction with the Vermont Botanical Club at
Burlington, January 20 and 21, 1911. The attendance was
larger than usual and an increased interest seemed manifest.
Dr. E. H. Forbush, state ornithologist of Massachusetts, was
the guest of the club, and gave an illustrated lecture in the
evening at the joint session of the two clubs. The constitution
of the club was amended. It was voted to establish a life
membership with a fee of ten dollars. Sixty-four people were
elected to the active membership of the club. The treasurer
reported a balance of $49.79; expenses $19.36.

Wi

BIRDS OF GREENSBORO AND VICINITY

Mrs. Florence Kinney

I am sure that Greensboro is a very good field for bird
study, but I feel incompetent to do it justice, as there are yet
many birds that I cannot identify. I will, however, tell you
about some of those I have observed, and I| can truly say that
the knowledge that I have gained is a constant source of
pleasure to me, and I find great satisfaction in every new bird
I can add to my list.

Spring means more and more to me every year and I am
often reminded of what James Beukham has said in his
book, “Where Town and Country Meet,” “Happy is he who
hath time and heart to stand upon the edge of opeGes and lis-
ten for the coming of the birds.”

When there is the first feel of spring in the air, I take a
walk expecting any moment to hear the velvet notes of the
bluebird or the “tut-tut” of the robin. My first robin last
spring arrived March 20; my first bluebird came March 11,
which is early for us.

I have about 100 birds that I have been able to identify, but
there are others in this vicinity. It was only last summer that
I learned that we had the white-eyed vireo. A friend who is a
bird student called my attention to it and we discovered it
was nesting very near our summer camp. One morning, I
found two of these baby vireos at my door and the mother
bird in a tree near by in great distress. As I stooped down
to examine the little birds, our pet chipmunk came scamper-
ing up for a peanut. “Chippy” didn’t seem to notice the birds,
but Mother Vireo certainly noticed him and down she swooped
and away ran the frightened squirrel as fast as he could go.

A happy experience was in finding the nest of a winter wren
in a log icehouse, the nest being between the cakes of ice on
the sawdust. I watched this little home very carefully and
was present when the little wrens made their first venture into
the world. It was a pretty sight to watch the four little wrens
on a branch of a tree and Mother Wren busy in serving a
lunch. The winter wren is quite common with us and once
I saw it as late as December 24. I wonder where it usually
winters?

18

EE eT

I have found the nest of the water thrush among the roots
of a tree on the shore of the lake. This bird is also common
with us. Of the woodpecker family, we have all the common
ones. Occasionally we see the pileated, and once I saw the
Arctic three-toed, being near enough to actually count the
toes. We have, also, one record of the red-headed wood-
pecker. We have several kinds of ducks. I saw, one day, a
mother and ten little ones. Loons we see frequently and hear
their weird calls on the lake; once a seal gull was seen, while
at another time a blue heron came to us. Just once have I
heard the whip-poor-will in this region. The white-throated
sparrow is very common and comes to us for crumbs, while
the hermit thrush sings almost at our very door, so near that I
can watch the delicate quiver of its throat as it sings.

Last spring I heard a new thrush—there was no mistaking
its being a thrush, but I was not able to identify it except as
I thought Burroughs’ description of the song of the Bicknell’s
or grey-cheeked thrush very closely described it. He says:
“It seems as if the bird were blowing in a delicate slender
golden tube, so fine and yet so flute-like and resonant the song
appeared.” This was heard in the Catskills and he continues:
“Probably never did there go up from the top of a mountain
a smaller song to greet the day, albeit it was of purest har-
mony.” I wish some of you would come next summer and
identify it.

About six miles from here we saw a cardinal bird; we were
able to get very near it and thus identify it without doubt.
I thought at the time that it did not come so far north, but
afterwards found it in the list of Vermont birds.

Of the many warblers that we have, I have identified
eighteen.

The Legislature of 1910 created the office of State Orni-
thologist, to be appointed by the State Commissioner of Agri-
culture. Mr. Carlton D. Howe of Essex Junction received the
appointment.

19

NOTES

Our list of birds has fallen short of last year, being only
seventy-six as against ninety-four the preceding year. But we
have had some interesting experiences. We saw five baby blue-
birds huddled together in a tight little row on a branch, being
fed by the old birds. We watched them so long that the
parents began to feel alarmed and stayed away so long that
common humanity prompted us to leave. At another time
we actually saw a performance which | had read about with
a slight tendency toward incredulity—interchange of polite
attentions between two adult cedar birds. They were extraor-
dinarily beautiful specimens and not more than twenty feet
away from where I stood with a good glass, and not even
a leaf in the way. The rapidity of their motions was mar-
velous. Number one picked a berry from his side of the
tree and put it in his comrade’s bill, and instantly number two
hopped a step or two to pick a berry from his side of the
tree and returned the compliment, followed at once by number
one repeating the act. They kept up the exchange of
courtesies for what seemed a long time, probably eight or
ten minutes. June 16 we saw a pair of white-throated spar-
rows, apparently intending to nest. They made a great fuss
whenever we came near a certain small tree, but otherwise
were very tame and friendly. After a few days they dis-
appeared, but in another place we heard one July 4. March
29 we heard for the first time the song of the northern
shrike. We thought at first that it was a catbird, but when
we located the singer at the top of a tall tree there was no
doubt of his identity. January 8, 1911, one evening grosbeak
came into the tree by my window, where we saw them two
years ago. It stayed there more than half an hour, and we
had a splendid view of it through a large telescope. The
bird was very quiet, sitting for a long time preening his
feathers and then making only a slight move to get a bit of
food—Mrs. C. V. H. Coan, Rutland.

20

The old song says, “Strange we never prize the music till
the sweet-voiced bird has flown,” but I think we do prize the
song and love the singer while he is with us. I am, owing to
many shrikes, perfectly bereft of winter birds so far this
winter. I have shot two of the shrikes. Last winter I had
large flocks of redpolls and of snowflakes, five chickadees,
three white-breasted nuthatches, one pair of woodpeckers.
We have many summer birds out here in the mountains,
unusual numbers of bobolinks were in the meadows near my
windows, also many dear song sparrows along Sunny Brook,
close by. Robins seem scarce about the lawn, but there are
many in the maple grove, one mile away near our sugar
house. We shot one red squirrel at 4 o’clock in the morning
while he was robbing a chipping sparrow’s nest in a tamarack
tree over my door. About July English sparrows began nest
building in the tamarack tree. The nest has stood many
hard winds and storms. I wonder if this is not a new freak
of this pest of ours. In May I discovered a shrike’s nest as
the young birds were leaving it. The nest was in a young
pine, and was made of twigs, twine, long pieces of clothes
line with strips of cotton cloth hanging from it. I wonder if
any other member knows of this northern bird nesting with

us.—Alice S. Brown, Starksboro.

Dr. Lucretius H. Ross of Bennington reported a young
American scoter, taken at Bennington November 16, 1910; a
king rail which spent the month of May, 1910, in the reeds of
a small mill pond within the Bennington village limits, where
its cries were heard night and day by all who lived near, but
only a few people were fortunate enough to drive it into the
open and get a good view of it; a dovekie, taken alive June
1, 1910, in Bennington. It died the following day. This
bird was in the summer plumage, although ornithologists
say that it is never seen in the United States excepting in the
winter plumage. Dr. Ross sent a tabulated list of 119 species
observed in 1910, in Bennington and vicinity by himself,
Salome B. Ross and Charles Hitchcock.

Miss Inez Addie Howe of St. Johnsbury recorded seventy-
seven species in her tabulated record for 1910. Ipswich spar-
rows were her rarest find.

21

A pheebe’s nest in an unusual location was reported by
L. H. Potter of West Rutland. The nest was found June 1
on a beech tree which had fallen into a stream in Clarendon.
The body of the tree was about three feet from the water,
held there by the branches, and in a pocket on the under side
of a large limb the birds had built their nest. Evidently they
had found this a good feeding ground, and there being no
other convenient nesting site they chose the dead tree. When
found the nest contained four young, all of which grew to
maturity.

I have had for years several lunch tables where I feed the
winter birds. We have with us now two downy woodpeckers,
three white-breasted nuthatches, five chickadees, two blue jays
and seven tree sparrows. In the summer I have one pair of
bluebirds who return to their box each spring, also two pairs
of robins return to their nests, one pair on top of a box we
put up for bluebirds, the other pair in the vines by the piazza
post. As we have never seen a shrike and our little terrier
keeps cats away we have never had a tragedy at any season.
—Mrs. Josephine S. Brown, Starksboro.

The tabulated record of Mr. D. Lewis Dutton of Brandon
contains the names of sixty-one species. He recorded an
American three-toed woodpecker June 12, at Mount Horrid,
Rochester, at an elevation of 2500 feet. He saw a winter
wren the same day on the mountain. He reported the mourn-
ing dove for April 22, at Leicester. Mr. Dutton reported two
pairs of mourning doves that his father knows to have nested
in one locality over thirty years, and another pair for ten
years within hearing of their house.

The capture of a full-grown golden eagle by a Halifax
farm hand, November 8, was reported by Mr. Harry L. Piper
of Brattleboro. The eagle was catching a guinea hen Novem-
ber 8, and became entangled in a woven wire fence as it rose
with the fowl. The man grabbed it by the neck and legs
before it could clear itself. The eagle was sent to the Bronx
Park, New York.

Mrs. James Hartness of Springfield sent in a list of sixty-
nine birds, the yellow-billed cuckoo being among them.

2

[os]

The annual migration list of Mr. William C. Horton of
Brattleboro contains the names of eighty-one species, seen with-
out special effort; nearly all records being made while about
his daily business. One of his records was a parula warbler,
nesting, May 11. A saw-whet owl, seen July 10, was another
unusual record, and black-crowned night herons, September 2,
are rare in Brattleboro. With one exception every bird was
seen in the town of Brattleboro.

St. Johnsbury children must have had their eyes open. In the
1910 bird study contest, the hardest test that had ever been
given them, with specimens of many female birds included,
Lawrence Doty named forty out of the fifty birds shown;
Edith Stone named forty-eight, Max Gilfillan named thirty-
nine, and Dorothy Adams named thirty-eight correctly. Many
other children made creditable records.

Miss Alice Eaton, assistant librarian at Woodstock, re-
ported that printed lists of birds were sent out from the
library to the teachers of the district schools. Returns were
received from ten schools, the highest number recorded being
sixty species.

Mr. H. S. Kinsman of Rochester, who was spending the
winter in St. George, Ga., reported the following northern
birds wintering there: Robin, bluebird, meadow lark, blackbird,
grackle, phoebe, goldfinch, flicker, several other woodpeckers.
None of these birds were in song.

Mrs. C. H. Morrill of Randolph Center reported a list of
fifty-six species which she had seen in Franklin. She had
not tried to get a complete list as she had been more inter-
ested in those she could study and become familiar with than
in rare migrants, seen once a year.

The Fairbanks museum list for 1910 contained ninety-
seven species. The forty others listed in previous years
makes a total of 137 kinds.

BIRDS ABOUT FERN COTTAGE

William C. Horton, Brattleboro

I have three bird houses on posts about twenty-five feet
from the ground; one of them is the “Castle,” where the purple
martins had their home many years up to 1903. A few small
houses and boxes are placed in different places for the birds
to nest in. The winter bird feeding places are small boxes
and small houses placed on the side of the butternut tree, and
a shelf at the dining-room window with four tin cups about
one inch deep fastened to it. On the ground between the
window and the butternut tree is placed a box with two sides
made like a chicken coop, three by three and one-half feet
high. This is for the birds to feed under during a snow storm.
The downy woodpeckers and white-breasted nuthatches are
at the feeding places the year round.

The tree sparrows begin to come in October. I generally
have thirty-five to forty constantly on the feeding places.
They begin to mate in April and while mating they sing a
beautiful, sweet love song. The first of May they leave for
their summer homes in the north. Last winter I had at the
feeding places six chickadees, four downy and two hairy
woodpeckers, four white-breasted nuthatches, thirty-five to
forty tree sparrows, eight blue jays and several juncos. Oc-
casionally a flock of pine siskins and goldfinches come to the
black birch tree over the summer house to feed on the cat-
kins. This fall (October 16, 1910), a flock of fifty or more
pine siskins came onto the birch tree. They only stopped for
a short time. I find these birds erratic in their movements.
Several times the white-winged crossbills have visited this
same birch tree. They have not been here for two years. A
year ago last winter I had a song sparrow and two white-
throated sparrows on the feeding places all winter.

I keep something on the feeding places all the year, gen-
erally beef suet on the tree. I begin to put out seeds in
October. I use millet and Hungarian grass seed for the
sparrows and juncos, beef suet fastened to the butternut tree
for the woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees and brown creep-

24

ers, also bread and cheese crumbs, hemp and sunflower seeds
and I sometimes crack a few butternuts.

The only birds that eat the hemp and sunflower seeds are
the nuthatches and chickadees. These birds are not on the
list as seed eaters, but they surely love and eat these seeds in
winter. It is amusing to see how they manage to eat the seed.
The nuthatch takes them in his bill and flies away to the tree,
places the seed in the bark to hold it and raps away at it until
the shell opens; then he swallows it and comes back for more.
The chickadee picks the seed from the cup, carries it to a
small branch on the tree, places the seed under its foot and
holds it down on the branch with its claws and raps away with
its bill until the shell is broken, then it swallows the seed and
returns to the cup for more. The nuthatch and chickadee love
the butternut meats and cheese crumbs. Blue jays eat bread
crumbs, suet, corn and other grains.

The downy wocdpeckers come to feed on the suet at times
all summer. They feed their young from it and as soon as
their babies can fly they bring them to the suet and coax them
near to it. Fhen the mother bird picks off pieces of suet and
places it in the babies’ mouths. This teaches the babies how
to eat also, as in a very short time I find the babies eating
away at the suet all alone. | have found this sort of feeding
the winter birds a success for over thirteen years and keep
the birds with us all winter.

The tree swallows have had their home in the “Castle”
every year since the purple martins met their fate in June,
1903. Nearly all the birds about Fern Cottage this season
have been successful in rearing their young. Two pairs of
robins built their nest near by. One pair we watched build
their nest in an elm near our bedroom window. They la-
bored faithfully and completed the nest. The robin was on
the nest for several days, then left it for some reason. In
a day or so later I saw them building another nest in a tree
near the elm. In a few weeks I saw them feeding their
young at the last nest made.

A pair of rose-breasted grosbeaks built their nest on the
terrace (in the grove), some forty feet from the summer
house, on a low tree. It was so located we could see them
building their little home. As soon as incubating commenced
it was interesting to see the actions of the male bird. He

25

would sing incessantly to his mate and when she left the
nest for food and water he would take the place on the eggs,
and while on the nest waiting for her return he kept up his
singing just the same. After the eggs hatched we watched
them feeding the babies. The male bird worked as hard
apparently as the mother bird in feeding the children until
they left the nest.

A pair of house wrens commenced to build a nest in a box
put up for them on the jet of the house. The female would
lug in sticks from two to six inches long. It was interesting
to see her when she arrived at the entrance to her home with
a stick six or more inches long put it into a hole one inch
in diameter. She would carry the stick near the middle in her
bill. When she reached the hole it made a complete bar across
it and stopped her short from entering. She then would work
the stick along in her bill until it came to the end, then she
would enter and draw the stick into the box. The male would
work some, but most of the work was done by the female. In
the course of a week I supposed she was incubating. I found
out by the fuss the male made, bubbling over with song and
carrying sticks to his box and then over to one of the large
birdhouses on the post. I soon discovered that the female
had left her nest just built and gone away to find a new home,
evidently not satisfied with this one. The male bird was
working his best to get her to return and occupy her nest
just built or build in the large house. He was busy for sev-
eral days trying to coax her to return to her nest or take up a
new tenement in the large bird house. All the time he bubbled
over with song, carried sticks into several tenements in the
large house, then he would fly away and bring back his mate.
She would look over the situation, but of no avail. Like most
of her sex she was determined to have her own way and
did. Later she found a place over across the road that suited
and later I found her beside the road feeding her young
babies.

The song sparrow is my favorite bird about Fern Cottage,
one I so much welcome in early spring, bubbling over with
its song from early morning until night, and many a dark
night I have heard it sing at ten, eleven and twelve o'clock.
It is here late in the season and has stayed two seasons all
winter and fed with the other birds at the window. I am

26

fortunate enough to have two song sparrows with me on the
feeding places every day this winter, so far. They lose their
song in August and sometimes sing fairly well for a short time
in September.

I find, to meet with success in keeping the birds about Fern
Cottage in summer breeding season, I must always protect
them against their enemies that are disturbing them con-
tinually. They are the hawks, blue jays, red squirrels, cats
and English sparrows.

The red squirrels and jays I shoot off the last of the win-
ter. Hawks I shoot when I find them in the grove. Cats
are a torment to the birds mostly when the young come off
their nests. I am continually driving them away when around
home. The English sparrow I will not have about my
grounds to stay. I shoot them with a very small shot gun,
using No. 12 shot. In December and January I poison them
and destroy nearly all of them this way.

I dislike very much to shoot the blue jays, as they are such
a handsome bird. I have seen them rob birds’ nests of all
their eggs at one onslaught, and as soon as the jays come in
my grove, in nesting season, the birds put up a distressed
cry until they leave. The same cry is heard when hawks
disturb them.

Do birds love music? As I was watching the birds feeding
from my window December 18, 1910, Mrs. Horton commenced
playing the piano. Every bird stopped eating at once and
listened, not making a move, only looking about to see where
the music came from. On the butternut tree were two white-
breasted nuthatches, on the edge of one of the feeding boxes
sat a tree sparrow, on the little birch tree near the window sat
another tree sparrow and under the coop was the song sparrow.
Not one of these birds moved except their head for fully ten
minutes—listening—seemingly charmed by the music.

co)
I

BIRD LIST FOR WEST BARNET, 1900 TO 1910
Miss Marion Bole

Bluebird; American robin; hermit thrush; olive-backed
thrush, scarce; Wilson’s thrush; wood thrush, rare, May 21,
1908; ruby-crowned kinglet; golden-crowned kinglet; chick-
adee; red-breasted nuthatch ; white-breasted nuthatch; brown
creeper, scarce; short-billed marsh wren, rare, September 28
and 29, 1905; winter wren, scarce; house wren, rare; brown
thrasher ; catbird; American redstart ; Canadian warbler ; Wil-
son’s warbler, scarce; mourning warbler, rare, June 1, 1907;
Connecticut warbler, rare, September 6, 1904; yellow palm
warbler, rare, October 12, 1907; black-throated green
warbler ; blackburian warbler ; blackpoll warbler ; bay-breasted
warbler, rare; chestnut-sided warbler; magnolia warbler;
myrtle warbler; black-throated blue warbler; yellow warbler ;
parula warbler, scarce; Nashville warbler, scarce; black and
white warbler; northern water thrush, rather common; Mary-
land yellow-throat ; ovenbird ; blue-headed vireo, rare, May 18,
1907; yellow-throated vireo; warbling vireo; Philadelphia
vireo, rare, May 16, 1900; red-eyed vireo ; migrant shrike, rare ;
northern shrike, not common; cedar waxwing; bank swallow;
tree swallow; cliff swallow; barn swallow; purple martin,
scarce, May 22, 1900 (Coventry); scarlet tanager; indigo
bunting ; rose-breasted grosbeak; fox sparrow; swamp spar-
row, scarce; song sparrow; chipping sparrow; tree sparrow;
white-throated sparrow; white-crowned sparrow, scarce;
savanna sparrow; vesper sparrow; house sparrow; junco;
snowflake; pine siskin; American’ goldfinch; redpoll;
American crossbill; purple finch; pine grosbeak; bronzed
grackle; rusty blackbird; Baltimore oriole; meadow lark;
red-winged blackbird; cowbird, scarce; bobolink; crow;
blue jay; prairie horned lark; least flycatcher; alder fly-
catcher, scarce; yellow-bellied flycatcher, rare; olive-sided
flycatcher, scarce; great-crested flycatcher, scarce; wood
pewee; pheebe; kingbird; ruby-throated humming bird; chim-
ney swift; nighthawk; northern flicker; red-headed wood-
pecker, rare, May 22, 1906; pileated woodpecker, scarce;

28

downy woodpecker; hairy woodpecker, scarce; yellow-
bellied sapsucker; belted kingfisher; black-billed cuckoo,
scarce; screech owl, rare; barred owl, rare; American osprey,
scarce; sparrow hawk, rare; pigeon hawk, rare; broad-winged
hawk, rare; red-shouldered hawk; sharp-shinned hawk; marsh
hawk; ruffed grouse; spotted sandpiper; solitary sandpiper,
scarce; greater yellowlegs, rare, September 22-25, 1909; least
sandpiper, rare, August 23, 1904; Wilson’s snipe, rare, Sep-
tember 14, 1910; American woodcock, rare; little green
heron, rare, May 16, 1900; great blue heron; black-crowned
night heron, rare; American bittern, rare; American golden-
eye; wood duck, rare; dusky duck; hooded merganser, rare;
American merganser, rare; Leach’s petrel, rare, October 15,
1903; loon, rare.

AS THE EDITOR SEES IT

The bulletin is very late in appearing for financial reasons.
It should be published as soon as possible after the winter
meeting, but this is not possible unless the condition of the
treasury warrants the expenditure. The treasury condition
depends on whether you and I and all the rest pay our dues
promptly, and each year get a few new members to take the
places of those who drop out of the club through -removal or
lack of interest. The publication of the bulletin would be sim-
plified if, at the annual meeting, the club should make a defi-
nite appropriation for that purpose, basing the appropriation
on the condition of the treasury at that time. If the funds are
inadequate the publication of the bulletin should be dispensed
with that year. Such a course would be regrettable, as the
bulletin is the only point of contact between the club and many
of its members, and its absence would result in an even greater
lack of interest. Far better would it be if each one of us
showed our loyalty by stimulating interest in the club and
keeping its active membership up to a level where there would
be no question of finance to delay or prevent the publication of
the bulletin.

29

NEW MEMBERS

ELECTED AT THE JANUARY, 1911, MEETING

Mrs. A. L. RICHARDSON
Mr. W. H. PHILLIPS
Mrs. W. H. PHILLIPS
Dr. G. S. BIDWELL
Mrs. G. S. BIDWELL .
Dr. W. L. Wasson .
Mrs. W. L. Wasson
Mr. A. H. SMITH

Mrs. A. H. SmitTH

Mr. M. W. CHAFFEE
Mrs. Atice M. CooLey .
Mrs. NELLIE G. DUFFUS
Mrs: i. Hl. JONes; ¢
Mrs. Georce W. Brxpy
Miss FANNIE SUMNER .

Mrs. HENRY WADE .
Mrs. Av S. “Harpy .
Miss FANNIE A. Cook
Mrs. CHarves A. RILEY
Miss MiILpreD PREMO
Miss Lena C. Ross
Mr. FRANK Hart

Mrs. W. H. BrApForpD .
Mao A. “. Rutrer
Miss Marton RICHMOND
Miss RutH HENDERSON
Miss IpA BROWNELL

Mr. Maynarp S. PAIGE
Miss Prima Hann.
Mr. Hazen WILcox
Mrs. B. A. STONE .
Mr. Fioyp RIceE .

Miss Mepa RIcE

Miss JENNIE Perry .

Miss BLANCHE MAXFIELD .

Mrs. LILLIAN VAN AKEN .

30

Poultney
Brattleboro
Brattleboro
Waterbury
Waterbury
Waterbury
Waterbury
Waterbury
Waterbury
Waterbury
Waterbury
Waterbury
Waitsfield
Derby Line
Brandon
New Haven
Starksboro
Morrisville
Wallingford
Stowe
Rutland
Rutland
Rutland
Bennington
Burlington
Burlington
Burlington
Burlington
Burlington
Winooski
Fairfax
Fairfax
Westford
Westford
Westford

Fairfax

Miss FLoRENCE SMITH
Mr. A. J. Eaton

Mrs. A. J. EATON

Dr. DANA DEARING .
Miss MINNIE METCALF
Mr. H. S. Kinsman

Miss RutuH Buiss
Miss HELEN Biiss
Miss CARRIE HOLLISTER

Mim. ‘(Co PRAY *.

Mess 'C.iC. Pray .

Mrs. L. D. Copurn .
Mims le.) YOuNG .
Miss JULIA FOSTER .
Mr. Henry KILTON .
Mrs. Henry KILToNn

Mrs. F. J. MAcoMBER
Miss Eva PERKINS .
Miss Lena Lorp
Miss Eva Hapcoop .

Mrs. A. P. MorGan .
Mrs. D. H. Stronc .
Mrs. CHartes M. Cone
Miss ALICE CONE .

Mrs. INez BALLANTINE .

Miss Epitu HOo.tister .

Mr. JosEpH MACOMBER .

Mrs. CLARA VAIL PERKINS .

Westford
South Royalton
South Royalton
South Royalton
South Royalton
Rochester
Hardwick
Montpelier
Montpelier
North Montpelier
North Montpelier
North Montpelier
North Montpelier
North Montpelier
East Montpelier
- East Montpelier
East Montpelier
East Montpelier
Grand Isle
Grand Isle
Quechee
Johnson
Woodstock
Woodstock
Woodstock
Williamstown
Hartford
Hartford

ELECTED AT THE JULY, 1911, MEETING

Mrs. J. H. Brttson
Mrs. HELEN KEnr .
Mr. J. W. CoLuins .
Mrs. B. M. MILier
Mr. Watpo L. Ricu
Mrs. Wa tpo L. Ricu

Miss Martua N. CLarK .

Mrs. CuHas. D. Hazen .

South Wallingford

East Charlotte

Benson

Westminster

Bethel

Saratoga Springs, N. Y.
Saratoga Springs, N. Y.
White River Junction

Mrs. Elizabeth B. Davenport of Brattleboro is the first one
to be enrolled as a life member of the club.

EDITORIAL NOTES

Are you feeding any birds this winter? Just the right time
to begin now. The birds will pay you back tenfold for the
trifling cost and effort. Every bird saved from starvation now
means more birds somewhere next summer.

The editor regrets that much interesting and valuable ma-
terial had to be omitted, either entire or in part, from lack of
space in the bulletin—more especially that it was not possible to
publish the bird songs reduced to musical notation which accom-
panied Miss Sturtevant’s paper, and the interesting photographs
of birds and winter feeding which Mr. Horton and others sent
with their papers.

How about your local game warden: does he care whether
the law protecting song and insectivorous birds is enforced?
Does he know anything about birds anyway? Do a little mis-
sionary work with him and secure his interest and goodwill;
they will be useful if you ever want to reach human enemies
of the birds through the strong arm of the law. A spicy letter
from him to a boy cursed with a new air gun will work
wonders and save the lives of many birds. But first try the
missionary work on the boy in every case.

The tabulated records of birds seen during the year 1910
which were sent in to the secretary are indicative of the good
work some of the club members are doing. It is not possible
in the limits of the bulletin to publish these statistical facts, but
this should not deter any member from sending in the tabulated
lists on the blanks which will be furnished by the secretary. It
only by the comparison of a considerable number of these local
lists for several years and from many parts of the state that
the real standing of any species can be determined. Every
one of these lists which is sent in adds to the scientific value of
the club records. Get a blank from the secretary, fill it out,
whether you see twenty-five birds or one hundred and twenty-
five, and send it in at the end of the year.

32

Vermont Bird Club

BULLETIN No. 7

March, 1913

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Published Annually by the Club

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Vermont Bird Club

BULLETIN No. 7

March, 1913

Published Annually by the Club

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COLLECTION.
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BURLINGTON, VT.:
FREE PRESS PRINTING COMPANY,
1913.

OFFICERS OF THE

VERMONT BIRD CLUB, 1913

Mata SMON GAN tia areben slo ayer pws (er seta a 3's Professor G. H. Perkins, Burlington
SURI ELE NESS TID EENU DY yay seve re ton sue ohavave si Snes avelle Mr, Harry L. Piper, Westminster
Bese MERIDA ER VG Py Sete Sear. lau ts.fo.raifa! aver av avoileis ees avs Mr. Carlton D. Howe, Morrisville
SEE PAUSE Bk taec a ct ew a aransiies cays Salen: Fual’s Boe eid v6 Mr. Jay G. Underwood, Hartland

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

VOLS ANS 1S GINS ec Tal Ran: Oe Ane eee MPS IS cst cc Woodstock
TZN MAVEN MOT Geos setae die cds sie wbre, oe win bas whereas Brattleboro
ia SNOETICS P OtUIELC VANE Sis. shoe m4 2% ote alee Sle bik, she ates rere ete Barre
RM CORSO We IIMS a So oss Hered eS cides S4.c.d os SRS Ae eto reeenerteones Rutland
Seana eee lore) UU OM eye afetetaieiats.c go sos eve aaa s0elb-als “sl ake 0 se mer ohehal se elenonene Brandon

EDITOR OF BULLETIN.

Mr. Harry L. Piper.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

BUSINESS. PAGE
LiSt ‘of OffiGers: . isco acad a cuew hy slap o ale aetelageltee oe ee eee 3
Table of -Gontenits << 2 o.cheo.c ce 7 ates e+ le ciaie Riel oieee eae o eee -
Secretary's -ReEpOrt§ ecu tases Sdpascusinton Sete oie ys ae 5
Treasurer’s RePOPrt) .cice6 255 sees store op otis ele oy sree ae ae eee 6
New Members: aio 6 sra.8% even encgogoue > haya: shin ooo OUI PS are CREPES ea 6
The ‘Summer Meetings. .fec cnc.c cs cisied are a) are o.08e- Casares Ut gcue we ener eee : ii
Section, Meetinizy Pla) aciicc- oo,cu eaeeeiers ere cence sie Gre con a) eae 8

CONTRIBUTIONS FROM MEMBERS.

Song, Sparrow «Study. wer. sath. «026 oiels tes sere cate « acts Gee eee 8
A June Birdsmestine -.4.54.2%.ce0 oss wine wis eotheas ey ee ee 9
The Red-Hyed Virco—The Marmer’s Priend ~.5. 5.5.55. see 10
Bringing -up-of a Cedar WaxWiQe 5c. secre ce aks se © creyentel eee 10
AS JUMGOISEINESE! duicoss cuca ces oe oS eae hee Seow ei = BUA 12
Photographing a Nesting. Woodcock |... ...>. Jems steerer 13
A... Neston a) ClOCK .aweigad sgacss tise oe) oe abe ieee eee 14
Bennington County .NOteS: < os 6 sje «02.00 ere isis +.) 15
My. Acqudintance with the Prairie Warbler =... 0... ocean 15
Nesting of the: Prairie Horned (bark: .)0 see ne le leet a eee 16
The Meadow lark in “Caledomia; Coumby sere - --1-)-eeheee eee ibys
Nesting of Yellow-breasted Chat. 2... 156 fs sean crane senor 18
Migration ist, “Hlartlamd! i. Nec ctcah necyole See list >> cree see 19
Ten Year Migration List from Fairbanks Museum, St. Johnsbury.. 24
Club: Members by (Grow ps) o.4.o6. << stecnemtecet eich ie eo) =e ene ee ee 29

The Mirration | UbistsS) <6 <s ecg.+ ac cat @. 0 cee, Gy oseeie) ene ee 36

THE ANNUAL MEETING.

The thirteenth annual meeting of the Vermont Bird Club was held
in St. Johnsbury, Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, 1913, in conjunction with the
Vermont Botanical Club. The sessions were held in the Fairbanks
Museum, with President Brainerd of the Botanical Club in the chair.
In the Friday morning session the bird papers were by Miss Helen
Sherrill of Northampton, Mass., Miss Emma E. Drew of Burlington,
and Mrs. Nellie F. Flynn of Burlington. The bird papers of the after-
noon were by Miss Mabel E. Stevens of St. Johnsbury, and Mrs. J. G.
Underwood of Hartland, with some notes on Bennington County birds
by Dr. L. H. Ross of Bennington. At six o’clock the annual supper
was served in Pythian Hall, the two clubs being guests of the Fair-
banks Museum. The annual roll call followed. In the evening session
a stereopticon lecture on Japan was given by Professor G. H. Perkins.
In the Saturday morning session the bird papers were by Miss Sara HE.
Graves of Waterbury, and by Mr. Harry L. Piper of Westminster.
Digests of these papers appear elsewhere in the bulletin.

In the business meeting the officers of last year all were re-elected
as follows: President, Professor G. H. Perkins of Burlington; vice-
president, Mr. Harry L, Piper of Westminster; secretary, Mr. Carlton D.
Howe of Morrisville; treasurer, Mr. Jay G. Underwood of Hartland;
editor, Mr. Harry L. Piper; excutive committee, Mrs. A. B. Morgan of
Woodstock, Mrs. Elizabeth Davenport of Brattleboro, Miss Florence
Sturtevant of Barre, Mr. G. L. Kirk of Rutland, Mr. D, L. Dutton of
Brandon. It was voted, on motion of Mr. Underwood, “That no persons
be recognized as members of the Vermont Bird Club after their election,
until they had accepted their election and paid their first year’s dues.”
Mr. Piper, chairman of the committee on reorganization of the work of
the club, reported a plan for section meetings and for a comprehensive
study of the song sparrow. The report was accepted and adopted with
minor changes. It appears elsewhere in the bulletin. The committee
was continued. It was voted on motion of Mr. Underwood that a com-
mittee be appointed by the president of the Vermont Bird Club to
confer with the officers of the Audubon Society of Vermont looking
toward meeting together, issuing joint bulletins, and cooperating for
development of interest in and study of birds in Vermont. The presi-
dent appointed the following committee: Mr. Underwood, Prof. J. W.
Votey of Burlington, Mr. C. D. Howe. It was voted to hold the summer
meeting July 1 and 2 in the West River Valley.

C. D. Howse, Secretary.

6 BULLETIN 7

TREASURER’S REPORT.

RECEIPTS,
April’ 1 to Dees 32, LOTZ dues trom * members ae.) ote eee eee $10.00
Oct. 29, 1912, from C. D. Howe, former treasurer, cash on hand... 20.03
Jan. 1 to Feb: 2,193; dues from’ mem benses. .<entes eter, eee 61.00
Total » Yeceiptse *5 22. Ao OS IS cea es aes eee $91.03

EXPENDITURES.

Vermont Botanical Club, notices of winter and summer meetings,

DOWD. thisse reel t gh ca dia bike tle, bho: TR ae eee $ 6.26
Printing and supplies, coin cards, envelopes, dues slips, ete....... 1B a5
Treasurer’s expenses, record book and postage ................ 8.14
Secretary7s VEX PEMSES! HA. cuslerers so Swe leo whens, pean trehalose ioe oe nen ee eee 2.55

Total) ‘expenses! he. nie e- as cette ete eee $30.20
Balanceon hand: Mebs die tcc ge oes th See etc a ae $60.83

JAY G. UNDERWOOD, Treasurer.

NEW MEMBERS OF THE VERMONT BIRD CLUB,

SUMMER MEETING, 1912.

Mir iG. Mi atichardsOmis a. oii cic ocak ee ee Waitsfield
Mars. Cosi Richards onicr jy irsc4c ae oie ceabiace > tee acho ae he eee Waitsfield
Mar. |G. salts eV OMI yeep uous Peknweiencreteie AEA SIO frock. c Bakersfield

4 WINTER MEETING, 1913.
Mr, George He “Parker os: 2. .e . oo sere eee a re ada ake ere Wells River

Mis) George ihe Parker .21). tt. these see eee ree nee eae Wells River
Miss blizabethy Meals F<.) Aes cette 2 eters cts ei rene Lyndonville
Miss Zadar Herrick. 225.eee cen 64 Walton St., Saratoga Springs, N. Y.
Mrs.shimerson Davis: ste iee .: 66 Walton St., Saratoga Springs, N. Y.
Mr. Wiendall (Pai Smirth ix. Seheeh. oe. eee tee. ee ol ee Wells River
Mrs. -Eiie Howe btom ei .i.)ce ct. wees eatin eae Lyndonville, R. D. 1.
DriKanny> Ta'Carleton! % 4. Sa%..ck ta Rae at ee ee St. Johnsbury
Miss Alice G; Clark (32) 271.2392 eee ae ee eee St. Johnsbury

Mrs; (Charles# Seaver 28.6 état coke netnnr es eee Williamstown

VERMONT Birp CLUB 7

THE SUMMER MEBETING.

The Joint Summer Meeting of the Vermont Botanical and Bird
Clubs will be held in the West River Valley with headquarters at
Townshend Inn, Townshend, Vt., July 1 and 2, 1913. Expeditions have
been planned by the members of the committee, especially by Mr.
L, A. Wheeler of Townshend who has made a special study of the flora
of this valley, to the local points of interest. Hotel rates, trains, and
all details will be sent on application to members of the committee.

A supplementary meeting will follow. Members who decide to
attend will go July 3 to the town of Stratton, in the wildest part of
southern Vermont. Headquarters will be in the abandoned mill village
known as Grouts Mills. From this point explorations will be made of
the forests, bogs, etc., of the surrounding country, especially of the
wild meadows and bogs which are reported to lie south of Grouts on
the Deerfield River and will be flooded next year by the Somerset Dam.

It should be thoroughly understood by all planning to attend this
supplementary trip that it is strictly a camping trip. The villages
are all abandoned. While there will be a roof over the heads of the
party, everything else will be taken in. This includes, of course,
bedding, food and clothing. All should be of the simplest kind. Every-
one who plans to go should be prepared for a strictly camp trip with all
its inconveniences, its fun, and its joys of the woods. The committee
expect that a forest ranger will be with the party, and will assist in
finding trails. All the members of the committee visited this country
last summer, and a partial list of plants found appears in the current
bulletin of the Vermont Botanical Club. Persons interested are in-
vited to correspond with members of the committee, who will send
detailed circular.

JAy G. UNDERWOOD, Hartland, Vt., Joint Committee on Summer
Leston A. WHEELER, Townshend, Vt., {meeting of Vermont Botanical
Haroutp G. Ruee, Hanover, N. H., | and Bird Clubs.

8 BULLETIN 7

THE SECTION MEETING PLAN.

It has been felt for some time that the Vermont Bird Club could
do a much more effective work if it could reach a greater number of
people. In the annual meeting of 1912 a committee was appointed to
report on a new plan of work which should interest more people and
increase the scope of the club’s work. On the recommendation of this
committee the club adopted the following motion in the 1915 annual
meeting.

1. That in addition to the regular winter and summer meetings,
the Vermont Bird Club shall hold section meetings at least twice each
year in or near each of the following places:—Barre, Bennington,
Brattleboro, Burlington, Hartland, Rutland and St. Johnsbury and at
other places convenient for bird students to get together.

2. That in each place where a section meeting is to be held, a
leader shall be appointed—these leaders to constitute a committee in
charge of the district work.

3. That it shall be the duty of each leader to make arrangements
for the meetings in his district, and to write a paper for use in his own
district meeting and in every other district meeting. ‘The programs for
the district meetings would thus be made up largely from the papers by
the leaders. These papers should be generally educational and instruc-
tive, rather than a record of personal observations. The leader should
also use every means to induce those who attend the district meetings
to turn in all their personal observations, however small.

THE SONG SPARROW STUDY.

In accordance with the recommendation of the special committee
on new work for the club, it was voted to take up a special study of the
song sparrow in 1913. Each member is to gather all possible data on
the species for his own section, and a similar study is to be made
through the district meetings by those not now members of the club. -
It was voted that the material thus gathered might be issued as a
special bulletin in the form of a monograph on the song sparrow in
Vermont. The editor of the bulletin was given general charge of this
study and was instructed to prepare a suggestive outline for use of
members and for use in the district meetings, and to assign special
topics to those especially qualified to pursue them.

VERMONT BIRD CLUB

A JUNE BIRDSNESTING.
Miss Sara E. GRAvES, Waterbury.

Birds calling out from the thicket and treetop
Rapturous strains to the dear brooding mate,
Up and away! not a moment delay,
Would you discover before ’tis too late.

Over the mowing lot, daisy besprinkled,
Hovers and gurgles the bobolink gay,

Through those lush grasses nobody passes,
Safe are his treasures close hidden away.

Merry his laughter, defiant his ditty,
Where is his little wife, no one may guess,
Wait till his brood he’s supplying with food
Watch then—the secret, perchance, you’ll possess.

High ’mong the willows the cuckoo has builded
Creeper and grapevine close canopy make,

Fearless the mother love, brooding our heads above.
We steal softly away for devotion’s sweet sake,

This tangled thicket is tenanted surely—
Yellowthroat, sparrow and catbird are here;

Lo, as I scramble through weed and bramble
Veery’s four fledgelings deep cradled appear.

On up the stream through the rank waving grasses,
Peeping within every bower, every vine,

Wonderful histories, wild, witching mysteries,
Secrets of feathered folk hence shall be mine.

Ever about me are bird songs enchanting
Lispings and chirpings of birdlings on wing;

Quick the ear catches the brief little snatches,
Gathers the rapture the light breezes fling.

Fear not, winged darling of wildwood and meadow,
Safely you build near the paths I may choose;
This June time rover’s the truest of lovers,
Trust me then ever, you nothing shall lose.

10 BULLETIN 7

THE RED-EYED VIREO—THE FARMER’S FRIEND.
Miss MABEL E. STEVENS, St. Johnsbury.

i The little red-eyed vireo of the roadside may truly be called the
farmer’s friend. From their arrival in May to their departure in
October, they are constant hunters of all kinds of insects. The eggs
of the potato bug and the various kinds of caterpillars—the farmer’s
enemies—are their favorite food, and they have no preference whether
they are raw or roasted, as I once saw them pick up some of the cater-
pillars that fell from a burnt nest.

While watching a pair of the vireos one spring day, I discovered
that they were using the small new webs of the caterpillars in building
their nest, using it in place of mud or clay. The webs that began to
show signs of caterpillar life were used as an ever-ready restaurant.
However, their good work was not confined to this kind of game, for
they were frequent visitors to the rows of potatoes, peeping beneath
the leaves to find the eggs of the beetle which they ate with a relish.
Now and then they took a quick trip to the garden where a nice cab-
bageworm, a butterfly, a stray grub, or a few striped squash bugs
were quickly and quietly captured. They did not neglect a lone currant
bush at the edge of the garden, but gave it a thorough daily inspection,

As I watched these little toilers, busy from early morn till night-
fall I thought what better friend or help could be asked by the farmer
or fruitgrower.

BRINGING UP OF A CEDAR WAXWING.
Miss Emma FE, Drew, Burlington.

While my Uncle and I were in the Adirondacks last summer we
had the pleasure of bringing up by hand a cedar waxwing. It was
after a strong windstorm about August ist that this little bird was
brought us by a man who had found it on the ground, evidently blown
away from his home and friends.

At first we kept the bird in a little box with a twig thrust in for
a perch, and fed him bird cherries, flies and berries. It was great fun
to see him drink water from a medicine dropper.

After a week Dick began to fly about a little. Every day he did
better than the day before. Soon he flew from one to another of the

VERMONT BirpD CLUB 11

family, and was perfectly fearless. We then took him out of doors
each day, and later he lived out of doors day and night, though he
came into the house by door or window at pleasure. We added to his
diet bits of scraped beef, millers, apples, bread and other things (once
even a bit of sweet chocolate). He soon learned to catch part of his
own food for which the family were duly thankful.

Dick was very fond of his bath. All I had to do was to appear on
the porch with his little dish in my hand in the morning, when Dick
came hurrying to me. Sometimes he did not wait for me to put down the
dish, but would fairly tumble into it right in my hand, splashing me
and himself impartially.

Dick was a great favorite and pet. Even after he grew strong
enough to care for himself he stayed nearby and was a valued member
of our family. He was particularly fond of my Uncle, and followed
him about wherever he went. One day he went to the postoffice with
him to the joy and admiration of children.

Early in the morning when Uncle opened his blinds, Dick was on
hand, and would fly in on to his head, or his back, calling loudly for
flies. Then he would remain on Uncle’s head or about his room until
he was ready for breakfast, riding down to the dining-room on his
shoulder. When Uncle went into the garden to pick berries Dick was
there to help. If he sat on the porch to read his paper, Dick appeared
and sat on his shoulder. If Uncle became too interested in his paper,
Dick would reach down and kiss him. And if this did not cause him
to lay down the paper and take the bird on his knee to pet him, or
feed him bird-cherries, Dick would take hold of his ear and give a
sharp pull, or carefully select one hair in his mustache and give a
strong tug.

Sometimes Dick would fly to the summer kitchen to see what was
going con there, and often tried to help Grandma cut apples. He was
delighted when she offered him a bit, and flew out into a tree to
eat it. He was also interested in ginger cookies and pies!

Dick slept in the vine on the porch cold and wet nights, but other
nights he lodged in a maple tree outside Uncle’s window, so as to be
ready to help him dress in the morning.

We often had dinner on the wide veranda. Here our little bird
joined us, partaking freely of whatever pleased his palate most, and
flying to each one in turn, between bites, examining our ornaments

12 BULLETIN 7

with minuteness and care, pulling out hair, and making himself
generally very familiar and friendly.

Dick was a very happy little bird, and so gentle and dear and
affectionate that we missed him sadly when he joined a fiock of his
friends one day late in September, and flew away with them. Perhaps
we shall see him next spring. We hope so.

A JUNCO’S NEST.
Miss Sara E. Graves, Waterbury.

The young ladies at the next farm house discovered the nest in a
sunset ramble a mile away on the hills. They could not identify the
bird, and their description was somewhat vague, though sufficient to
arouse my curiosity. I had no suspicion what the bird might be.
“Would I go up and see the nest myself?’ Indeed, nothing could de-
light me more, especially as it was off my regular beat,

A night or two later we went up on the slopes of Prospect hill,
itself a sufficient attraction. On arriving at the sugar “shanty” near
the location of the nest we paused to take breath. And what a view,
a panorama of uplands and lowlands, farm lands and mountains with
grand old Camel’s Hump and Mt. Mansfield in the background. It
was a perfect June evening. f

“All was so still in earth and air

You scarce would start to meet a spirit there,
Secure that naught of evil could delight

To walk in such a scene on such a night.”

But the mother bird recalled us to our object. There she was,
sitting on a branch above cur heads, lisping audibly “Phit—phit.” Her
utter indifference might have fooled us quite, had we not known of
the nest; but I was surprised to find that it was a slate colored snow-
bird nesting in our neighborhood. The nest was securely hidden in
a rank bed of chickweed, so deep in shadow and so perfectly in harmony
with its surroundings, that even when we had uncovered it and were
lookin straight into it, we saw nothing but thickly matted chickweed,
until suddenly four bright red mouths popped open, as though saying
“Boo” to the intruders. Little fuzzy creatures they were—‘darky”
babies in truth. They would have baffled interviewers most success-
fully if they only had known enough to keep their mouths shut.

VERMONT Bird CLUB 13

PHOTOGRAPHING A NESTING WOODCOCK,
Harry L. Preer, Westminster.

I first made the acquaintance of my woodcock on a bright May
morning. I had an appointment with her but she did not know it.
A friend brought me word that he had found a woodcock’s nest in his
pasture in a location unusually favorable for a photograph. Of course
I took the hint at the very first opportunity. }

My friend’s farm is on a high breezy hill, sloping toward the
sunrise and with a far outlook through a picturesque valley. We
walked cautiously out through a little grove of hardwood and hemlocks,
and just at the southern edge my friend pointed silently underneath a
hemlock about as high as my head. I looked and looked again, but I
could see only the brown leaves flecked with sunshine and shadow. Still
my friend’s finger pointed insistently to a spot about six.feet from us
just under the edge of the lower hemlock branches. At last I saw just
what I had been looking for all the time—a fat mother woodcock sit-
ting motionless among the brown leaves. I had been prepared for an
example of protective coloration but I had not realized how perfectly
the mottled and streaked back of the bird would blend with the dead
leaves and grasses. If one looked away an instant, he would have to
look sharply at the spot again before he could make out the outline of
the sitting bird. It was an amazing demonstration of a familiar fact.

The bird kept her place until we were within four feet of her, and
then flew off with the characteristic whistling flight. Two eggs were
in the nest. I took one picture of the nest and eggs at close range
and then set up the camera in a partially screened position about six
feet from the nest. I waited, and in about five minutes I heard a slight
rustle in the grass on my left. Turning around slightly I saw the old
woodcock leisurely walking in a circle around me and the nest. She
was not 20 feet from me but only now and then could I catch a glimpse
of her, so well did she take advantage of the scant shelter the rough
pasture afforded. She circled nearly half way around me and in-
spected me and the camera from many viewpoints. Finally she walked
rapidly away down the hill. I saw no more of her although I waited
a half hour for her return.

Fearing that the eggs might be harmed by too long exposure, [
went away. On my return ten minutes later she was on the nest. She

14 BULLETIN 7

must have been watching and returned to the nest as soon as I left.
Knowing the exact location I approached cautiously and focussed the
camera about 10 feet from the nest. She did not even wink at the click
of the shutter on the first exposure, nor did she show the least sign of
alarm when I moved up to six feet away and took another picture.
At four feet away where I focussed up and took another view, I could
see that she was breathing more rapidly, and the next move sent her
whisting away across the pasture.

This nest was in too exposed a location and it came to naught. A
few days afterward my friend reported the nest torn up and the eggs gone.
Whether a prowling skunk, fox, snake or red squirrel was responsible,
we could make no guess, but some of the many bird enemies had found
the snug nest and in a minute the work of weeks and the hopes of a
year of the mother woodcock had been wiped out.

A NEST ON A CLOCK.
Miss HELEN SHERRILL, Northampton, Mass,

When I was a girl I lived in a farm house in Alabama. In the’
family sitting room was a big fireplace, and on the mantle above was
an old fashioned clock, about three feet high. As my mother and I sat
quietly at work in this room one spring morning, a wren flew in
through the open window. We held our breath as it flew about the
room, at last alighting on the clock. Not long afterwards the wren
and its mate began to build their nest right on top of the clock. In
and out they flew, carrying sticks and straws. The sticks looked like
splinters from old, dry rails, some of them being six or eight inches
in length. It was wonderful to see such tiny birds carry such long
sticks.

Just outside the north window, through which the wrens always
flew in going to or from the nest, was a porch. After the nest was
finished papa wren would sit on the porch railing and sing. On cool
nights my mother closed the window. Finding it closed in the early
morning the bird would peck at the glass until the window was opened.
I suppose that really he was trying to fly through it. As soon as the
window was opened he flew straight to the nest. The striking of the
clock never disturbed it, nor talking in the room.

VERMONT Birpd CLUB 15

When the four baby birds were ready to fly, we were all eager to
see their first trial. But, friendly as they were, the old birds apparently
thought this was asking for too much faith in humanity for one wren,
while we were all at dinner, the flight was taken. When we came
back the whole wren family was out in the yard. We never saw them
again,

BENNINGTON COUNTY NOTES.
Dr. L. H. Ross, Bennington.

We have a few items of interest from this section.

There was an unusual migration of Cape May warblers extending
from May 6 to May 22, 1912. Numbers were seen and one was found
dead. This is the first observation of Cape Mays in Bennington
County in more than ten years. Never to my knowledge have they
been so numerous.

A Tennessee warbler was seen, the first noted in Bennington
County.

A yellow-breasted chat was found nesting. This was reported at
the summer meeting by Charles Hitchcock,

A Hudsonian chickadee was seen Dec. 26, 1912.

MY ACQUAINTANCE WITH THE PRAIRIE WARBLER.
Mr. Gro. W. FuLLeR, White River Junction.

While I was studying the bird-life of a piece of pasture-land, June
30, 1908, a few miles from my home, I was confronted by a very strange
bird. It was a warbler, of that I was sure, but I did not know the
species. There were two of them, evidently a pair. After consulting
my hand book of birds, I identified them without a doubt as the prairie
warbler.

One of the birds, which I decided was the male, perched on a
branch of a small hemlock tree and uttered a call, ascending the scale
and then partly descending with more volume. The other bird darted
in and out of the branches of the same tree, twittering nervously,
and seemed very anxious about something. Wondering at her manner

16 BULLETIN 7

I peered into the thick branches, and was well repaid, for there reposing
on a rather slender bough, about six feet from the ground, was the
nest and eggs of this rare little visitor,

The nest was rather loosely built, although the cup was firmly
woven and lined with horse-hairs, which had been brought over a mile
by the tiny builders. The outer covering consisted mostly of Brass
stems, rootlets, and pine needles, fantastically decorated with everlast-
ing (Antennaria plantaginifolia) and the down of a small marsh daisy.
The nest measured on the outside 3 in. across by 2 in. deep, while the
cup measured 2 in. by 1 in.

The eggs were four in number and resembled those of the gold-
finch in shape, being rather pointed at the smaller end, though a trifle
smaller. The markings were wreathed about the greater end, and
consisted of small blotches, mottlings, and minute dots of black, dark
and reddish brown, and a peculiar lilac color (purple). The several
colors combined formed an attractive pattern on a delicate cream-
colored ground.

The next day I returned and found the female on the nest, the
male did not appear.

A few days later I received word that the swamp was being cleared.
I went at once and on approaching the nest found that the noise of
the axes and the men’s voices had been too much for the tenants, who
had decamped, leaving the then thoroughly chilled eggs to their fate.

The nest was removed, the eggs carefully blown and both are now
in my cabinet, sole proofs that the prairie warbler has at last been
found breeding in the Green Mountain State.

NESTING OF THE PRAIRIE HORNED LARK,
Miss Bripcer M, Rooney, St. Johnsbury.

On the first Saturday of May, 1911, six little girls invited me to go
on a picnic with them. We met some of the school boys who seemed
to be interested in the birds. One little chap asked if I could tell
him the name of a bird which looked much like a sparrow of some
kind, but had a black head and black markings at the throat that looked
just like a black bow. I asked him if he knew the chickadee and he
said he was sure it was not a chickadee. I told him I would go down

VERMONT Brrp CLUB 17

to the place in the pasture where the birds had a nest with four baby
birds in it. On reaching the nest we found the young birds were keep-
ing house, so we sat down to wait for the return of the parent birds.
Very soon they came in sight and I recognized them at once as birds
which I had seen here each year for at least five years, but I had always
seen them in the fall in the cemetery at Paddock’s Village, and quite
a number of them together. I described them to some of the bird
students and they thought they might be young bobolinks taking on
the plumage of the parents. But when I saw them here so early in
the spring, on May 6, and nesting, I knew they were not bobolinks.

Wayne Lurchin, the little boy, first saw them April 23, and a week
later, April 30, as he was going up through the pasture, he discovered
the bird on the nest and when she flew off he saw four eggs. Miss Griffin
and I studied them and decided they must be the prairie horned lark.
She visited the nest and saw the birds, and several of our bird students
went over on the hill to see them. On May 14 we went to the nest but
the babies had all left home and were running about in the grass.
One of the babies was put back on the nest and had its picture taken,
and again in the grass, as the little fellow did not wish to remain in
his home any longer.

Would this bird ever sing along in the night? Three different
women heard a bird song last summer which attracted their attention,
because they had never heard anything like it before. They described
the song as beginning with a whistle and ending with a pretty song.
I could not think of any of our birds that sing at night except now and
then one that might wake up and sing out once and then go back to
sleep. One woman said that the bird sang until late in the evening.

THE MEADOW LARK IN CALEDONIA COUNTY.
Miss InEzZ Apple Howe, St. Johnsbury.

My first and for many years, my only record of the meadow lark
was on a misty, moist morning in the latter part of April, 1896. I was
then attending school at Lyndon Institute, and our professor of Natural
Sciences, J. B. Ham (a charter member of our club), was conducting
a series of bird walks for students. For fourteen years I looked and
listened in vain for this bird in Vermont, but saw him only on ocs”:
sional trips to Massachusetts.

18 BULLETIN 7

On April 23, 1910, Miss Abbie Smith of East St. Johnsbury saw him
in that village. From East St. Johnsbury they followed Moose river
upstream for nearly a mile and a quarter and finally settled on the
Grout meadow which is in the town of Kirby. During May, June and
July, 1910, I made many trips to that meadow to watch them and
study their habits. During that summer there seemed to be two pairs
of adult birds, but on July 15, in passing the meadow at twilight in
addition to the adults I counted ten young birds feeding among the
grass. I visited them regularly until they migrated in the latter half
of August.

On June 14, 1910, I observed a pair and heard them singing on the
meadow at Lyndon where I first identified them in 1896.

On May 17, 1910, a pair of them were on the Hovey meadow, up
Moose river about two miles east from St. Johnsbury village, and within
the town limits, which is the only date, I, personally, have for St.
Johnsbury.

In the spring of 1911 when the migrants began to return I was so
curious to know whether the meadow larks would return to the same
locality, that on May 14, 1911, I made a trip to the Grout meadow once
more, when to my intense delight, I saw twelve different individuals
feeding and singing their well known songs. During the summer of
1911 I made many subsequent visits to the meadow and saw many
young birds in the latter half of July.

On July 12, 1911, I once more visited their haunts at Lyndon and
saw there two pairs of adults and several young birds.

My only disappointment in my acquaintance with these feathered
friends is in never having found their nests.

It gives me great pleasure that they should have returned to the
same haunts in such increased numbers for the second year.

NESTING OF YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT.
Mr. CHarteES Hitcucock, Bennington.

In a bushy tract about an acre in area in some meadows about a
mile from Bennington village, I heard an unfamiliar bird note June 19.
After much chasing about the bird finally came into view and was
identified as the yellow-breasted chat. The following morning the

VERMONT Birp CLUB 19

bird was seen in the same place by Dr. L. H. Ross, Mrs. Ross and
another bird student. It chattered constantly or sang whenever we
stirred it up. We decided that it must be nesting nearby. After the
others left I watched the bird carefully. Two or three times it flew
into a wild apple tree close beside which was a thick hedge of bushes,
now and then flitting nervously down into the hedge. A little search
revealed the nest in the hedge and the mother bird sitting. There
were three young birds and one egg in the nest. That afternoon, when
the nest was visited by Dr. Ross, the egg had hatched.

June 22 my brother and I took some pictures of the nesting place,
but were unable to get satisfactory pictures of the young birds. The
nest was visited every day until June 25, when one of the young birds,
probably the last one hatched, was found dead. For fear that the home
life of the birds was being disturbed by such frequent visiting, no more
observations were made until June 30. The nest was found empty, but
the parent birds were nearBy and they fluttered about me in such a
worried manner that I felt sure the young were safely hidden in the
bushes. The young were able to leave the nest therefore, within 12
days after hatching.

So far as I am able to learn this is the first authentic nesting
record of this bird in Vermont.

MIGRATION LIST, HARTLAND.
Mrs. PEARL EH. UNDERWOOD.

he Hartland Nature Club members have kept migration records
since 1908. The following list is made up from their observations for
five years. The territory covered ranges from about 500 feet altitude
on the Connecticut River to about 1,800 feet. The northern raven was
shot in Hartland. The summer record for the white-winged crogsbill
was on the summit of Mt. Ascutney, where large flocks were seen.

First seen. Last seen.
Canada EOOKD: 2.88. See trae On Eee Mar, 3 Nov. 12
PePPSEV GT SO LCGEIN! fe.2c ox ace ensle sss. sles ne May 11 Aug, 25
ON AAMC Mea Go eae pc cin, &,.01 ones! ceerae, silancesle RUT ue otetarn cath we seus
PE eTtA MIN GEES Ceo oo Cke%E ei.cy cn eiefs o/s %e soa ei, 8 « Reignciec Apr: | 6 Oct eet
DORIA CULTS ara Si ys-8 sos susiSpar vi. vile gieie Fs Spee Ee Se Sept. 30

20 BULLETIN 7

First seen.

Ered=pilled &TeDe . cus. 2 cisternae elo cia APT ane
PNINGDIGAN: NICTLANSED: yore ase skies slacietetele ote ae ee Renee
Blue-wineed teal “20 a. ces ctaecorem cis ahora ae eos eee
Biack-crowned night heron ............ Aug. 11
Great blue heron’ tore. cyt ack ce ere May 19
Little green heron ....... ES 8 I July 16
Lesser “yellow legs. suk. e aneaass cus 51 eee aes May 10
Upland: plover hee can cmcireck dance een PAO WALA
Barwamys Sanapiper . 2 cee sce tla eles May 2
Semi-palimaved: Sandpiper san 1-- aoe ol cael le eiereiereene
SPOLCEH ASA POEM ences cts circ ene «sie leita Apr. 23
SoOlMlary Sand puper fase eeere ceo ete cre May 11
Pectoral, "SAaMadpIPCr «1. sre costa. eee ise ie ety cepteerstomes
White-riumped: sandiplipem i... «screen ae May 14
@omimvon SCE, cece os cette neeie e clete otaleretete ; Apr. il
IPINMCASAMICS wesc cine sree cis tinue tetera eke Raew AIST SiS Mar. 29
Reds STOUSET wa ow cima cicuseisse te om aieaeioetees Mars oul
POU INETTS (MOVE™ cots ensue =) or epey-voieic) el oe oteiles) 3. May 16
VI SUMMIT Wi code cere, is eucteiet siete veusis & cheretencn eats Mar. 31
INIMETUCAN <2 OSM aWike .. .. ereherins exe ae eiouseetouehoes dno © sik
VE Csbanl Gd mM awikiriss cre cine toeel wie rele enon tennienaaseat cs Mar, 30
Red-shouldered hawk 22 sac este 4 scl cheer May 20
Baseomr a wikis chavs che ccsteutee cic neteeersneicas tots evens Apr. 2
Sparrow? shiaiwikes .i..-c.sx.-usenuee sete o sear June 2
Sharp-shinmed: Whaiwise oases eiemini circa Apr. 25
Cooper’ svnawhkirs ine sean ce oe cc ewe sine es May 12
Broad-wineed- Naw ke. Shae ca etac eh wrsseine Apr.- 12
ROWERAECLESA NAW of ec cis tee ele sels wee) | Riplelsnsis aie
AMEerICaN OSPTCY fac. ce och ce swt ee oem Apr. 27
ANG CACT OMS 4S erate sc ccoee ete ee ete ere Sieh eee wrote one eta cene
Screeci owl! tacts tih aces oes Saves bee eties Feb. 10
BATTLE MUYONV! Ah sere hs ccadene aerate apec ner etary Meee tiny coat ae
Wone-cared: owl, 2 Si Be eee. cree ake erecta een ene serene tee
Great, HOEMEMMOWs). 2 en wraciteneiolcnseucarseouetens Mar. 12
WHODA COCK oS brctucre bes sialehs ce Shae (aheitsy <xeyebavelenepe July 5
Black-pilled! Guckwo! foe .6cc occ eee May 19
Belted ™kinefisher- 2.225.220 28e tee as pore Apr. 716

Hairy *woodpecker: URES.) tr. sc ciceis eictensneta en Wibrn ele fenene lene

Last seen.
Oct. 25
Oet. 25
Sept. 12
Oct.) 13
Sept. 12
Aug. 5
Aug. —
Sept. 24
Oct. Ui
Aug. 25
Sept. 14
Aug. 29
Mar. 24
Sept. —
Aug. 14
Oct. sat
Aug. 23
Nov. 17
Sept. 12
Nov. 26
Dec. 8
Noite aly
Dec. 12
Oct. 9

VERMONT Brrp CLUB Pi

First seen. Last seen.
MonntivawOodpecker (GRES2) s..i¢ss.eecee Eh ede e eee Pt eS PS.
Red-headed woodpecker ................ SFIS © GS ee ete tte eee
mAneties three-toed woodpecker ...::...6¢2 “ssenicee Noy. 16
Pulcaned) woodpecker? Jie... .ccccccccsces Feb. 1 Dec. 7
Golden-winged woodpecker .............. Mar. 31 Nov 6
Yellow-bellied sapsucker ............... Apres: “6 Dec. 26
UUM OOM TID. 55s a5, css lets c vie a doa iectutiidcue May le. nee ree
MSU ARSE ARW Kapa | outs sca bie voi. rove hocerensistic ee cede Ales May" 0? ee Saar
MUNIN SW. soe tt ire ghee ke eed dual IN OIG BAO) Sept. 15
Ruby-throated HUM IMMe ITs os Sees May 8 Ae: 2M
EATHINES OEE |S 2S aes neice gc nee RCE eRe May 2 Sept. 14
Gueat crested, flycatcher 2... 606.5. 8.0050 Apr. 19 Sept. 20
"? INGBIOS: <5 entree yane etonoy ol Cac GREECE Sede oe Mar £29) ©) hase, cee
WOO Cae CWi SCs i are tots cise e erscleve) o-Eicueescat gio duane May 19 Sept. 20
ROC CC ME eer hs eee hc Sin ho ot aaa ore Apres © lal Sept. 24
Mellow-bellied flycatcher ....5....26.6.<. May TO pata REE trict leo
PMG erethyiGalCMeI = 06 62s osu. he deeew ews Weave Omen ee ee oe
Wliwve-sidedi fly cateher 22.3 .2.62. essa. cos July 16 PRUE HALT
TNE em AT Keen a ied iret conc wise A ae eke Bod ayeed -s Dec. 3 Mar. 4
Brailes mMOrned lark: Sook... secs e dees ae May CF ioe areal <a chert
EMMIRCMATCUV AMPERES) “huctalenetecN sus ccucicishays cae 050s) || tite Mialepaie ne MUNDO s ME Neneetunr ec tnere
PEGLOWAE ECCS) Ma cee aes cies sa ann seeded HOI Sb oold 6) Shes dtboce
ENGGMEI Te RAVEN foes cae scaas ee oa sees Novy. RPE EE ae a rath eke
TEOTUOUATMUE: © ah casieyda cA ORCRI INE Ree aenea anette aes May 5 Aug, 26
Fede WwaMeCds DlAGKDITG Ss ccc 4 ose base ce Mar. 20 Oct Ail
MEGRW TAU E Mtns cs tnt ci cleie cine Gaus bee eRe) | ceateerereee Sept. 15
REScIRTOM WV LATS Komp reese eater oO tilatiss srbse oer ert erase Apr. Re earns nea
EVaMONE OLLOIS® jive oes sess els ase ees May 10 Aug. 30
BCE MAMMORIOIGS 2. necks oie hice oe Sua nde sae eee May? 1: 9)0 > ee rey ne
ERI SAeaem MLE” cic sie cis a. cies Sue alee ae esc Apr. 3 Ocu, 14
ESREINU ZAC pPOTA CKO 2 aca, ces elapsls ace a a: eveheiere a arene Mar. 20 Oct. —
PRTC OS WEAK. Pilsrs. cea ave leve cls s)aua tues. a evaneeene Jan. 5 Mar. if
ose-preated srosheak <..-....5.ces8008 May 6 Aug. 27
PA PEO S WGA tt he aie.ee, cchwrsisve 2 ie cistore a ers Jan. BY ee eR rrr NaC
STC GOS CAGE ct Rife ee, hai. s a elt o acter een) - mt tese sens Oct. yg
minenteanl, SOLRMCH S522 5....250640%200% Feb. al Dec. 25
PME) ASIST Se 1 ts ay eae a eR ae ea aL Jan. 10 Nov. 20
POO Wa IULN ES ©. sh. ws Sok ome et aed eens tes Jan. Z Nov. 20

29 BULLETIN 7

First seen.

BMUUTN CO. e's anes djei'e "> ns oh alee tmeke eee Remenene rene a Meaetroae Feb. 1
Bapland. lones puts Geert yan cee Apr. 22
Purple finch. 2.2 ucts ome eee ea eee Jan. 27
VESPER: SPAT OWilae coheed. oe occ ole conics Apr. 6
PEA DOM ys usccsehins che SPU meee rane ec acer aac te oreteae Jan, 6
SAVAMMAK SDE ONG @ ee oc «a crcteiees ey ometene ADE. vs
White-crowned) Sparrowis.-..2.. cme ace. Apr. 21
W hite-throatred sparkOwaen sce comes SAI 6
TCG QSDarTroOws ax is 6 tees oe Ge eer racae ene Nov. 10
Chippinessparno we erase ot ee eee Apr. 3
Hicld sparuow. <5. <-s eoeea= Se nles cic eee Apr. 8
Sones SDALhOWas or cert oe a oer eee cere Mar. 3
Siwailnp SD aenOw, oe seats ethene eee Apr. 29
MOK CS DAT OW pyc erat aoe oe cieecace mieten eicaate Mar: “ol
AO WiC Een te sieia sont, boeue est 8 fat ospeeweneeloreiee acim cea ees May 15
Lmadweo! Pum: ss, s ca epsle oles nisre oe Sonne May 15
Scarlet tanagser ea. jqcehone sre cee ee May 9
Haves Swallow ©. ci desscdrm Siero eecenbee nies cere May il
IBATTIURS WallOW: =r frcueuestere se teste ee ninne Apr. 27
Baie SwieallOwa pecs, 2s eyes Gi ae aretecsek chee May 3
PPE ec SWallOws Aeicrvauin ee chtke Rieleutie ee ree Apr. 20
Cedar: Waxcwile, si). oon tenets se anchate onkerceie Feb. 8
NonGihem-vshrikeis: cscs oe se eee oe Feb. 8
Ihoegerhead Shrike \ gaaes oes cate ccue crocs Jan. 4
Red-6yed —VITeO. wos os capes ore eae ewe ae ee May 12
Wee Mies AVA GON CLF. Teo cele aos aes ele ener ene ADT ee
Yellow-throated avinreOloe soe eee ee ale May 10
Solitary Vine onsets celeste eale ove ecosreee eeets May 4
Blackvand white swarbler so )23.1acnasmee ADT og
Nashville warblem ii acces csdere-cseena ree May 12
Tennessee! swaxrpler™ ~ <gscsen. +e /ayorssoe seein oeateers May 10
Parulagwar bier: 2.8)c..cobrae oeuvre eee May 4
Cape Maly warbler sn spurns eet Coes May 4
SUIMIMeL Wale te eyes saeeisie Meee reine ere May a
Black-throated green warbler ........... May 1
Black-throated blue warbler ............ May 4
IMiyvartllegawamnbler. Ws. send ot oe ole temcuteutae Apr. 29

Ma cnoliacwatbler anime. eee se cee t oaee May 4

Last seen.
Dec. 31
Dec, 11
Nov. 2
Octane
Oct.

Octs) #6
Nov. 5
Apr. 30
Oct. 8
Oct. 8
Nov. 26
Nov. 12
Noy. 12
Sept. —
Sept. 4
Sept. i
Aug. 26
Nov. 29
Oct. 2
Sept. 29
Sept. 20
Aug, 26
Oct. 1
Sept. 20
Ocla AG
Oct. 4
Aug. 24
Sept. 20
Aug. 13
Nov. 30
Sept. 29

VERMONT BIRD CLUB 23

First seen. Last seen.

Chestnut-sided warbler ..... edi, Sate ee May 8 Oct uli
Bavoreasted= warbler a5 .0o 0s fds Wanye a Petes |
Eloise polle warbler: ¢ tc)... biwauls « Ste eme May 4 Sept. 8
Mae KOUrMIAT Warbler =. . jus ccc ee oe ate Apr. 30 Sept. 1
_ Maryland yellowthroat ................. May 10 Oct. 8
Mellow spall! Warbler <.io.ts erste. we anes oe Apr. 20 Oct. —
pute ee Wiel Cite ea cecyciey cesWeyat-c 9), a, suaivon eters apo) sys eee Apr. 30 Sept. 28
WAM AMA WAEDICT chic sgh snes waiecwte se 35 May 10 Oct. 6
UE belie tamer ems laren cece ie: ata siccvcuehetone ses. wieleus:cuaye) are May 11 Sept. 25
MVM DGC 2s teen skaen a. slanteerc a mee. © eo May 6 Oct. 4
ACT ULITISI So.cu.s ler ass, psienees s ON NOs he Ra cea Sept. 2
VESOMeES:. DL AGI (GAD cers, cvsueve osicise cle le levee aust s May 16 Aug. 26
Berner te eects aie cs rsrctetok aia erelavelee stew eee May 10 Oct eS
EPROM CM ASINGR ets sce a ae ella ce ale ne Apres 29 Sept. 20
SONNE NER WORE Tike ees erate citaitdy itcre rege suairenerenetes sie. ois Pore lal Nov. 3
I@IUISIEY AWE, Sap RSE eee he ee eae eret ean ok cee IAT) Re Geers 1 NE Sirona ets ae
Gone GReOnelan(ECSt)t som ca cis ace cies sek Se ares caeperen SOON i otclen pouare
Muhtrespreasted muthatem GRESH acces = a bclceve ciel) 9 ee L Poueyei ete) ellen
ed-breasted nuthatch ... 2.0. .0-.5-%- Feb. 5 Sept. 14
PETA COMIREKOS SO) MC oee en a Ne eee Ses cc cle tet. kee ete et ee ele
bane Clg UGOROUSEM eecyerayer spn"aee sy det= oe Soe ie as Apr. Ghilg aia Grace ioe
Golden-crowned kinglet ......:.......6. Mar. 20 Dec. il
Eaiby-crownled kinglet ss. 2 o.oo see wee es Apr 12 Oct, 24
WV GOG: AL IMUISHEG » aircioph osc eee AS a Bale meres ous e May 8 Oct= 20
Sinve-packed: thrush) 2). 5 ce. cress cr we chee June 16 Ocke t
OUSTES OTIC SE EMTSREGINY. c\as.c gio eva, lapel tisieeece, che lei ol one, 6\-0\'= UNTO ALG Oct. 8
Mes meIMM Ue SUPT: orcs: sane isireeneusneceree ane e Siete cial Mar. 31 Oct. » 25
EVM ctetictiis ators is cise asia saeheeres ote ates Mar. 10 Nov. 9
PES Meee Ro 8. aise. cnnts Sine ert eke seat edsilsrs Sc6.e 6 Mar. 7 Nov. 16
White-winged crossbill ................. Mar. 4 Aug. 20

Dr. L. H. Ross of Bennington reports evening grosbeaks the past
winter.

Mrs. C. H. Morrill of Bakersfield reports evening grosbeaks Feb.
21 on the campus of Brigham Academy. About 40 birds were seen
about the campus several days. They were feeding on the maple seeds.

7

BULLETIN

24

‘029d—éT “AON—TT

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SZ—z2 I —rh 6—& OSE 82—S &€—r 6-—S ZI-Z@ 6I—F OZ-E CC srr youg efdang
ZI—b ZI—& FI—b O2—h TI—b S8I—S I2—h & —Ph ZI—F G6I— ‘‘seyoNSdes paT{[eq-MOT[EA
TI—€ PI—€ P2—-E FE—-S 2E—E OZ—E PFE—-S 2 —E Gee el-e TT oaunf patojoo a}eIg
ZI—g gI—G GI—p 2 —% LI—G GI—e Pf SI ee ee ere UIYSIS OUI
yO—& SI—& 2—E 2Z—h OC—E S2—S G—F Te—-E Se—E TI—-e CCT MOIIeds SU0g
O2—& PI—E ZI—S 92—E 9I—E Ee—E Bc—sE Te—-E P—-G BB TTT parqentd
S2—@ 9I—S 0¢—E 92—S 9 —I B2—S TI—€ 8I—e FPe-E 6B TTT UIqOI WedTIeUry
yo Lb —Z OI—S 8C—Z Ge—l &€—S OIE L—E 6I—-S yale] peuloy
SZ—I 66—I 8I—I IT —I &@—I II? 21—h 8I-—S 8T-Z OZ [lodpey
9I—@ SI—T LI—I FI—Z 9I—-T 1S LIZ LEE 8 mE Suyunq Moug
’—- *—T 6I—-Tl 9—T 9I—-T T—~E TI €—S FE—T FW yReqsors ould
8 —F Dy —F oe ae 0 —eE yey Twat pear y 1Z—? @\cut- 4) ee iL —f Rip .ere te | es eereye ‘ofn ss I[Iqsso.10 POeSUIM-a}IY MA
ZI6E IT6T O16T 606 S06T 2061 906 S06 +F06T 06T

Ace ERNE Cae he erence Ne ir tae he NAG ate Boel Gh OMe CO RS Oe
Peete eo hone on at sree: so eiin neE bates Mee ee RT Agee gees aot ee GoN
JUspIsey ae is) see) re) ee Oe 8 Se 298) 48 3 ©) SPR) Se) 86) @ ©.8) @ BS) Blia7e O.e 6.0.8.0) o 6 e a 6) 6, 9 9 @ oie 61a © mf eerie) (6 (6 6 ee sie 8. JI9OsSuRSs.1IOU UvBITLIOULY
eg ee er et rae wat wre neds, Chores dam ahr ee eum Tousastyy pede
eh ee ta ad. Bare eho i a as yas we Mono Sruopieune
JUepIsey ‘Oe See Be Ceereile ayaa © gam! suis) (se aac lata & ay ol ole, 6 im Cie Ciete On Cece a a. @ fe. em (ce) One ove. vet 6 tuuel.ele. © Sus wre. e. Beotats 6 I9d90.19 UMOIG
a Ree Tt IN lite SF. Ae Sa rege wn tre oy thw eae a ee Kotidecaurd
jUepIsey a) Ce come) a! oe RRS. eet « SIND ie (ee /d ete wilh a Meum leis) 0) sip « tuts 0, ete. e @ 0) he, > 65s 6 © se. € Dips! 1s Ree ee Oenn A we ee ee 8) ne Ohm ie Avl ont,
JUSpIsey Ey ee 2) Se ele) Sees (eee e781) abe 6.6 tee sae .6: 6 fae elle 67.8710" 0! 0) © 2) © (818 (8-6) 0, @! 8) (B18. 8° ip @ 6, 8 0 Ome) 6. BLIP 16. * 0), 8 16 18, 8 qouypjos UBvILIOULYy
SOM do 2 Oe tchet eR Rapa a nee ee en ime eg ys Gorssdigndls. ponmarte
JuepIseYy cles & Phe etn sere wilt e Ube) a) 9) aed e ie) Ss ose/a 18 wal se. ms) 640, ¢)1).5 (ehe. eye. .0:.618 Cale CiD 6.079 0.8 @). 8 .e./a awe 9 Mens, of Iayvad poom AII@H
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VERMONT BirRD CLUB 29

CLUB MEMBERS BY GROUPS.

For the purpose of arranging the section meetings the members of
the Vermont Bird Club have been grouped according to their acces-
sibility to some good gathering place. This grouping is merely provi-
sional and any member who finds some group more convenient than
that to which he is assigned, should unite with the more convenient
group. A notice of this change and any suggestions as to a better
grouping will be appreciated by the editor. It is probable, if the
section plan proves popular, that some of the larger groups may be
further divided. It is hoped that this manner of grouping the names
may put us more in touch with each other and serve as an introduc-
tion to all bird students living near each other.

BURLINGTON GROUP.

VE Sem O SCM ee ATT Clunreiaiet at yarchoies atcee =, oa enexarsiancearm are «)-oneremellSpa aus leisy ere Burlington
Virsa Ve wees WGknaml 5. 2 occ. aes en eae teins bier ee teney de cvcr clorchare Burlington
IES um eee ESE Ia OMe. occ revere, eter aisceieun ale eveay etter sivare ere see yerahet aap saa ieee Burlington
ATS ol Clete ES OMINOUS cy ctere ve erste oye os aise (eke eile sere. e. oie) sa suntohaematioy ar sgone's Burlington
Bano IN Cliaielie "Site hie s oid Gecineiaic ates Coriciot cas Crest eatc cron c.clc Burlington
ESE y ees eer OTT TAT TNS seo alsa Src sctaat «| onc\eusuaellebs) ms oldie sits Shore Burlington
POLS Samet TUN TID eta ye DTM erences after aic: Wetieleile aivs,-e.evelie (oe aneia iene; ho sear alte Burlington
MineeeVAmes BACON) -..,..<c.c2 ors es cae os cs eS ne ee Burlington
AVIS INC HED re Ho VoTNTN we 8S tevin slays fopei soe) eogece stor al ele asses Sderot Burlington
Minsaehired CrCl, §Gayi-, sctycks sys ete a) stalisheye ee s\snaislae eed sus ese ees ae Burlington
VSS teat) Chi wl OME Cl sale orclejtctets ices c's ietave susnsiecs aie ovata atau ous ghehers Burlington
MYR comme Mente yas dled CO Mas oe ase raraniay 3) Sencrates evar aitcya: sties @ s/he all ohes sia poms ae pe Burlington
SNES BE OW Ac, cts hs ad cuca caso ol oie souts lardd ecocete: one io telaua staves it chee vO Cr ena ete Burlington
IF Syne cd Og OVE TG Dota acs ds 2 cers er tetetisnat ot istalnlinte hw uUSS Sais 6 wile ns S aNSTO aoe ene Burlington
MiSSMB ER NUMERIC GLSOMns o2 seyaicicts Oe cre ary s.ckarae acs ore epakedepeauelens ...Burlington
SE OLE Siro; sisi cie'e ai sacs 5 erans sso aves Se Smal ea a's Fiaialoteego ot oan Burlington
Aer Seem Pes OI mecca ian more ventas ciauoiewe Dees Ge Rome ian CEE Burlington
Ue mem lvenm ee AUT IIV ATI fo oh fo, nce citclehel cra .olissisvene’a ene Suploners! i516 uo oye exces Burlington
UTS sue See AR IVD ATU LUM et, scsi onsuate const ele ieceiere aie, BIS Guareore ite layer o SeeMe ens Burlington
Vint UU MES emIVICHC TPIT) secverctohcrevsvertia ic. scece Seieree nig aiaershe is Piola, o guetaes Burlington
TPTR OES (Gp, sl Bla" 1E<Er rl UO Sepa eS eho eer eK tei apelin Ans Cannan MEE AR oe, Burlington
nies Eee mie Cloisonne ce ss, oi cis Ga icilatoisies ce sobs see Giclees dare ahaa Burlington
MUN en edie ys ETS SLING cu chy ycwrg ire, site) is anatase vets Sl enarereenspsromet es ones oaks Burlington

WLTSRY “TBYESISITEY B 1 Rei TIG( RC ae RENE Wann Ee es ha eo ee a eRe re ae cee Burlington

30 BULLETIN 7

Ning “El, -T:. “Rutter. +. 2a See eg in ete rete cr ieee rene ered eee Burlington
Mrs), BA. Richardson. -eooces chastise cus ieee Cee ee Burlington
Miss. Marion’ Richmond! . ...0 sere ckiseier ara oeceuew ta rete eee Burlington
Mrs. A.B. Simonds: ope a5 spn ie aciens cena nearer Burlington
| ae! 2 eam lire) i Pe res ea nee hn eM on Ne EE KR Ene Sur ewaicnere Oly 8 Bciale os oa Burlington
Miss Phoebe. "TOWLe ive, ccececa’ « ctepegane ogo ous sie 4 ous usin asians ae enn Burlington
Prof. Jeo We VOLGY ge cvesak. te crete cos re heer ete oe Be Oi ee eee Burlington
Mrsx..J: We ViOtey ec «ous ea neel staal scans a eee eee Burlington
Mrs: Teiliian Van eA Ken 55 50 ec teeta ee tees eerie Burlington
Mrs) ES) WiorGesten raced acs erekektae su cuedet ere eas. eae eee Burlington
Miss. Katherine Worcester fins secu scte lie oc) )oaieneieaeie ieee Burlington
Mrs. cHelian Newell tfc.sioeienckte.e oeecke Gaul o ie scare eee oe Colchester
Maynard SS) Paice a... ccsnemers cc cae ele Sis cher ciate ieee Stn eee Winooski
Dane Ds 2Gritiim: Shs £6. heels See ee eae Gee ae ee eee Winooski
Mrs. Jo es BillSom: 2.5 Seok Sie ane ateie ie ie wie ee eee one East Charlotte
Miss ‘Corav ti Tarbox. 2 O85 Sebel ccc cies tes Gietenebe ioe Essex Junction
ESE aK ET OAS Avice setclote vobeste ieee revel cnebatepieh cid cca tects) cee Renee Grand Isle
JOSephy Macomber” Wc letecra wpe ec. che doer okotons ern or eaeveyske tee eee Grand Isle
Missi J. “Macomber .\ ses secs sree ee = one ate Cac aero neers Grand Isle
Mrs) 1. El “Stromet Wi. sts ee cisere eres sveriss che tel neko sie eke alte re chaos oleae rotate eae Milton

Le We Brehimer: 2.285 s63.sd00 8 he nes ce eaves toe ee eee eee eietereo eaten Rutland
BY DH Briggs acs 345 SSSs oP Se SSS. 99 SIO AA SA eo eee oe eee Rutland
COE “We CON as sc3 5 pea dic. A davatons wtareseedse oe bette See ees Ue Rene ee Rutland
Mirss Ga Ve (Coal Hs 8 cies aad dct fad Sietn craetin Preyer d ogeh net Renee cue Rutland
Re SVie0 INS Davis: 725 hac5445 teste ee Aid «oe ee Gis aoe We eo ee Rutland
Mrs? PR Dy Parner 3 653 head d ond eines do ead es See see Rutland
Miss“C@ora “GiB: Bield’s ahcccteicc aoe a8 Se a aitessd Soi aoe eee Rutland
Dr weGs WACTiG Ale: + .5.h.ce da aes Sees 2S wae aa ee eke © one i ed Rutland
Rea Ass Sela scs.d ao bh See es Seed Se Meyetah ol oltcs SUS st Woy eee ate een Rutland —
Mrs: is Ay Hall 9.03 fo £2.82 beds SE SoS Les oe ee oe eee Rutland
Brak: WES Lar >< Pedic 2d aye 58 dee toe Oat Moodie oa ais Ste abel Ag vale ee Rutland
DUAN ARON ns As code hs Xb oa be Sarde He dap ops Aunts ois obs eee Seta eee ee Rutland
Georee Li Rirk == a. Safad Ss as Re ae a cd oleae Se te et ea Rutland
IMISS*EB OWEN oc occ gae Sicde ba ae eed -s are /d the sialenel ee alee igus Reema Rutland
Miss‘ Mildred EX Premo «< o2 o6.65 36.8 fod he eile cated nei Sere dete eee neee Rutland

Ge ERS FROGS s.ooc sis cic bic iodide dd Edna tudiG fee he eure FF aye eT ee Rutland

VERMONT Birp CLUB 31

PUT ERKOSS: 20 5c. d avers io, 012. @ioyeye eee ont ere barsueueususie.ey skagen aePorsudclebore. = ere Rutland
TIDSETOIT, WEA O00 Ree ee aerenaene crores cic com bic ceo ou emor Oe c Of Gee c Rutland
US SMETANA EUOSS) a .,c.4.., a. a: 4s /e%s, selgyeue, ogsgeporen sagerencleted tenet saa ads tomes Rutland
i, TRIGA TROUIG Soe eee eee OeimicminomInic nin Sava cio West Rutland
ince eleniel. IBEX DY © o.s2.c-5-.0.0 o)e 5 Stee wales a) rep a. ererey tetiohenenees eee Poultney
MSS MmeAt lee GM AROSOM!, “Sob ole. oy oes, ov apsyspbiele aie-ene we rR etnS eho asa Poultney
Ae Mle rave ty ve TU U GLEN 5,i5.%, a) op sy'es)ehe) © ay'a)sdp 0; 5,10, dice euSrioy op Sie) & aya) crepe beeen ehe oie Poultney
MUMS Semsy dle a Leste ITP CM ee we ensice) ave) aire\ ome mies asics a’ ay.5, oe) sd Peo Fair Haven
ee SIM TU Term AID CIN CT were ons eyaite se Shcoivelje.iese 2h cise (e)tuct« sacsiene seu) | Speen Fair Haven
Mb SSMS LeUTclepnl Viet CLG syajecs sse.6 ce ot sa volace, «545,0; sje osdqaere chee we New Haven
MME SSM Metta ye tele) EV ELTN Clalll les che) eemeeene ten ch -yeray Stat cntessos ehelie' a a eis wlela tls sta eee Pittsford
Ive. TRI: ISIS Sh allege eicpar dic morencsre GUE arene Ch eRCE er Sne RST Reet eect Pittsford
MisseeAnnas ME NGrANSer <.2...c00066o02 one ales SiDeeos ose East Poultney
MIS Suey Ce Tiiw ea ch BN Sue, roars, oi. eeueictelicleneusita: suo sie silico 8 creiveiba abate ayer <4 East Poultney
ERC e ee Reem VV COU MOTD EG 95: os ons. eels sw Sualle lasle’ © o's cieusse-o 3 ws 5 East Poultney
WiteSeer idee Par WWEDEMETDEE! os. es cue ce iccete els s ocsue sou sear selsie see East Poultney
NMaisswViariia. IN. Clark ...c.5.002 8086 os 16 estaalion Gia ars keene South Wallingford
SNMHMNTCH MMT CTs OF Nieves csc aware, «, ais, gees thes Gee Saver a yee RRR = fel Brandon
EEC eM ID) RNID) PICO TT: AID ETA Socsys suse: So ‘or siavotte cols isiei's ei eueigi pup o-Scbhs OLE Ree ale Brandon
1, ILENE IDIOT, AAG Cp ICI eit oreeiCEters solo. dn 76 Smock Brandon
HE WBE ep Taare Perey esta tet atch c. rocco clave Gudie: at's <cBis, is sica |G, aco: ay Sve day at eanate amet emate nets Brandon
NYUATCS Stee cS La Hida ty cee TGV eet hah, <a stra via ers Foy eliosra|fayratin. ) « ejier-sr'9\ 0% io o's eos oenaneTT ot Brandon
VISSHOArEtc= WReOMSDCEs 5s ccs vaccine wm cic cae oe 2 enn Pt acate Brandon

RG aT Kau ES RO OLS new actetscefeis A ctevens maces Gisus cis @blel- S ele RY epeRe ass St. Johnsbury
WTAE TEM cana PLB 0) 0 Sie an Se SICH ENCE IC ERR CR RE NERC RC CEPR CRENELS 3.004 6 Stas St. Johnsbury
ITS) SIPS OU ENE aS Grteiy See ene pen NE RTUeE IEE racer Ere encores c St. Johnsbury
TSS ype, Sis cus viscc wheus suas is se wena elngeiae esheets aie St. Johnsbury
PS SmPAUNG er Ge Olam oe tc, 25. 5, oe ein, 'dy opened enepeyeiepeycmekey oh eee St. Johnsbury
Dis, helio (ORielt orl) See ae meee Oro ceoo Solar oc St. Johnsbury
OTH ISIGIcivOTG, AA Baek Ro NER ER RRA HORE SIGE nOlorS ceckaca oc ache St. Johnsbury
SMO LIMNE Ta eA MTOWIC. «<5, 0.0; sere la eer ya a emerge ne anee emote St. Johnsbury
UMTKSemmN Pa STC OVS TNIV 5. a aye: Sin, ds 5, 0p:5)' 051 o's, eateeysp sve) atte) = Axa ehSwaIG, = St. Johnsbury
MSSM LOX CE: ROONEY. kvscs.s, osie.0) 4 = ereeusial se cealeues, Jiekeutate es aie St. Johnsbury
MS meV Wel ISTOVOME so wis Wesice-ays wane tetibam, area 4 ss TktRo deka St. Johnsbury
DAapieCSosepHeM NWAlLerMAaN ... 2... ccmodoasuynses eee de ot St. Johnsbury

WIDSEY GAN] CENT De aS) calf 0 een Aa ee East St. Johnsbury

39 BULLETIN 7

Murs: Ei? J: Blodgett: .....2bhan ete ce eae cee beth ee eee Lyndonville
Mrs: B. Folsom: 223. 2..2%2 a2 ses ees See ee Se eee ee Lyndonville
Mrs. ‘Hifie Houghton’. ..ch haber ee ick oe chien ere Lyndonville
Mrs. W. W. Jeers: Mice ses. eittom eaters ea ete nee Lyndonville
Mrs: | Hie! “Ws2 DayStar’ Sa ei0cl Siicec i attatal ois tera tenetacaletalot lah Ne sheen eens Lyndonville
Miss Hlizabeth Hillis’ to.:. 5.7 ie ietercatavetsdesetere tate tah lhe eee Lyndonville
Mrs. Wii Te SBROWersy i556 6 00F cA a stake toratata ta chs lalatoteteSore tote cree eee Lyndonville
Mrs: Harland “Parker «5.2.00 10038 fo so ace oa tee eee Lyndonville
Miss: “hdastS: Pear) ik scat 2Os se sel arace outs Doses ene anaes erere eee Lyndonville

Miss Angie F. Willey

R. G. Brock
G. H. Parker
Mrs. G. H. Parker
Wendell P. Smith
Rey. E. P. Brownell
Mrs. George W. Bixby

M. W. Chaffee

je, @ 6: ©) a) 0: 0!) alle, ae)» 6:16.10) 6.16\e wile eens a) alfa) mie al

en ve 6.» | 6) 0) ee ee) e180 cue Sues wld is) 6) se) lb\\e eles) asm

Ba) © 6 0).0 [9 (6) 0m» Se \0\\e 0: \0. © («lu w l6'\6) p15) 0,16 os) s/h) mile cele,

o/c a ote le 0)e (60) © ete! ole) s) as] ets) e/eto) sc epi ere (ste te ain stele

Lyndon Center

Mrs: "George SES Tides ..5,.)ccnctatons’ a seberaitote eliete tote vote he itapa tel oharete Re et are eee een Lyndon
Miss"Olive: J; -Meclame: 2. .h2a<nce she etee se een ne eee nae See Ryegate
W? - Dustin Whiter: 2 see csc feds oc ois dere ole seen ane te eee Ryegate
Mrs. SV. Dustin: Whites .. 222.5600 she ocseis ba cisie cus: eee Ryegate

Wells River
Wells River
Wells River
Wells River
West Barnet
Derby Line

Miss “Drusilla. Baileyo Sat 8208s St Semis wink epee cer eter ae ee eee Montpelier
IMirsoltis? PY OUT os. n oe cese cuore iets eaasuecereee mane le been cle meeolee East Montpelier
NS? SL DM Copii cranicta caterers tenia enhei tee eee eee East Montpelier
Miss “@arrie “Bo Sibley. 2 ac h-ttsicss aaa see een eee North Montpelier
Mrs) *Hdwinei@> His? 720s. oes ates ots Oe ee eee ete me North Montpelier
CGE APY era tc Fe to iota fo ta tate fa otatee obs rele Me temele Te te tote He Datel Foe enone North Montpelier
Mrs2iGiis MPray : ok & seis s ek eet De Oh ERR DITO RE North Montpelier
William: Barclay .-.60od-06 i te letereeteteteie acc tatate anaes ee ee Barre
KOM MEP BOOTH orcs See 5 syrah waar tdroreta a eleetorate rotate veneers: ote eee eee ee Barre
Miss’Grace Dr Barclay: -.sop2.crerecstatetervalepaltel a? alate ois hs ketene Pete deae nee aan Barre
THOMAS eT’ Wercer: ches ic belis bk hronettcnete ade bereponelcn cca Oana Barre
WilliamaiG, Sy Mercer: i .:..4..seistcye aiatere le repenenerereha le tomsinn ae Re ae ee Barre
Miss MuUniceD., Smithy is. A acec eas tol ovata cpets otolotcs ale ete eee ee Barre
Miss “Sara: He GTaves oan 1 sary op atieore eet ats cr ears eit ec ee ee Waterbury
Dr. GPP Bid wells | coe cies. reieieve erecenat w: hana) ever ere tete ti eae ae ere Waterbury

Waterbury

VERMONT BIRD CLUB on

IVI SemmPNU HINGES Vie COOLEY: sv. -crey-ev'or steverercueh reine RiGee Sela evene, aye’ 0ifm ats epee: © Waterbury
MICHEL T CR Gee ITEEUS . < sssuec 5 ores eee eu weet eos rel ne a Bole eka ase Waterbury
PACE SLMS TINUED Net cares oycer Si sve levare: (o.t vieotey ovehel cutee eren eepete ents tele tab er sier ae Waterbury
GSP ACRET AN SOTTIDLID "5 5s a.c:s: 6.0.6 0 0 00 sedans. & ohare elles toneiecertvey als) herctton ee Waterbury
Fre) PACU I MGebre sce. cvs, c. havarsv econ uron's a enov sim v/v al el ietinay sreeopeenety Snare Waterbury
HO TeMAY VPM LE AVV CLS OMe -ciccy nee of Swot ctor cr oiter-a tH oes cr-ohey ep es ot san) oheNeuey shoeeke a meee Betts Waterbury
HVAT eee se VV CELS SOM oo a, o.c eave duckeie: shorsie eee a ai eeslclin a aa ae eee Waterbury
AV IPIa es PammPTE UTES ety lease ANGLIN WOM vay ersavox aria) oflsv'a\leilot sia fai er «el cl'aseveyaue ol aire chews Williamstown
MURS OAT LOSES CAVET oc ate exevare eve o aed eile Sie o.d02 wis) sia ae Sheree Williamstown
TS Saver tayo re WV CCM TI AM es sec cs tatels| sperciccuetsiciieny) c) sisiene s)isie e+ Williamstown
Miers een OD TsLOS CA RUN Va an rar peewee etal. lelict stetoda asleteneitcra oy eitchar-dUave: ‘nto sc ns Mey mites Stowe
ETRE ES EW; 0 cies. coe ie 51 sete e nie atau sie tee ciete ay a tueieie Scare) aiens apes) Sierela beens Stowe
I Seep blem Bion SGM. © a gyeicccko ovale. 6 reccvetena se aislcvats & s/s/esepa{e auapeuersiehs.a'e a eel oes Stowe
WHE eee OMESs Soy 5 ong oie trsise wiceheisuevar ous Tare talelausl's vsice-ayateues or'eiey ay aus ates Waitsfield
CO me Iam R HUT CSO TN s,s yss, se atle vane s-oint et creel OMe Tims, ueMeas: siisrist ere @ eisce Waitsfield
NVI Semn enV Ieee ECHOING SON. oo cueie ors sssusuniia oreienslence way sycuarsusalaucle. e eres Waitsfield

WHITE RIVER JUNCTION GROUP,

CO CMMN Vier MENUMMLOT: Cle cnsee cuits e sveereiiel curate ave iale aie’ eats White River Junction
MTS yee NUTT ict makes DAO TU cogs laters! s wye\eusuasaa'e.0 6) sera) 6 cia White River Junction
Nise WarleS ID): EPAVON 2 k.c creer icvers ele, corals Sars ele ene White River Junction
MOU AUTL Se) eT ZT < cays jccot ates sncanles otla'e lores aysie’s a oie stiecai aye White River Junction
MaceeGhares. Ds Eazen, <JI. . scenes «wc cee eaten White River Junction
INTTAS 2 hy “1d Meet lie aeRO RE EIR Re CrcMrECre Ac, ICICI OS Pees Sica Hartland
iSO Gerd LUE LO VATNGe scetcite ocscsns ene cdenc\ chore, si sian ces peulensteeteye Hartland
Mca Ge ma MG ET WOOO) 2, «5 Sec sre seis a, c¥e,/eeic! ace (eb. sriay at alte leo) crs Megaulepepeucnenaie: Ce Hartland
Mi Semel sys Gr UNGER WOO | 5 cclecietncsie ors elses si eos'eic sumekeiiens.a syanchene Hartland
Co GL, GRRE Se oer che ODT oeotcr CISCO Rue oHeNTeEERS hoary toa ea North Hartland
PEAT Cle ECU vee re. nhajiny eM lete ecseveuek tek onokeh elie: ayako' S's) spe Hanover, N. H.
Piet ny cee) GaP RO TIDINGS v- cy- cise vouelerecey oe: aterese, stave we orens' 1a, si. 6he13 eralmamensauehee Quechee
Miser Asses MORSAM: |e edcs sao «cess 22s Bs RR ee Woodstock
Come TIM TTA SLITS Sar, 0) ayaseivocweuers aie o selec «so svaheppaisnaonliw eueitus Woodstcck
UMUTISS PAN TRICESIE STEEN (Oh a ha ee ee Pe ene Cee ee Woodstock
IIS, NWES TBS od RO(CTRES "GES ercticr Ottis Coen ORES ae CRE TE ORE es aetncee Woodstock
Punta Ce CO Ts RINE TSE Th, © asa, vl ate, ot oRapgh oy borrone 1500) oh epics oy UREMS, oie uss at ea wo) = oye Woodstock
Mrs. A. P. Morgan RE Oe ee ag, A Meer ior Rie eal aa
(CGS), CLT hs AYR B25 0 er Se ane ee oe eae, eo oS Sac Woodstock

IMETISESS. TICE BYES SS ol 0101 -AP n er efe Rae ae a Woodstock

34 BULLETIN 7

INTIESMAWV ED: MACK ed... 312525 3 srctebrere Salsa miaieropcnat aletaka see Peete West Woodstock
Miss’ Vinnie »Metcalt, sa. 22 J. maccteats a Soe aie ca one South Royalton
Ney CMAtON: .2cuveheee ss ono hse ee ane ape ee Re oie South Royalton
IMs.) As 3%. atoms 39 oi ad tices Steer a Pate aoa ore ee South Royalton
O82, ‘Tarbell satay. 3 ya4se =a tels ot galt ae eee South Royalton
Mis. OWT SMlORS EH AR kiizteiencoewin eke et he em Onno Royalton
Mins: JN MMe es x 3 che Saree oho hea vere ev cre os fof aac Se ae Bethel
Georeer Ne MAMMS IM ncei 5.6 5 acerendce sos hs clever eyars, 4) oy 2ieke MONS Ble ore= oko ene Bethel
Winsee Ab PELs COMO s ohh dis od ood ote oem © Sie Oe, et eee ieee Post Mills

Miss cAnmieriis ETOVGOmMID Sy Ais ciotee Stasloleratehe) soot ian erent St. Albans
Miss: Mary Ei; Jemmisom 2 ctivwce ccs elerselevctotes tals te hee ieee St. Albans
Mrs: Nellve ED YWOOdiWOrthy Se: ces sede irs cel eieveleterneieeiaih ne eee St. Albans
Miss) Bellke™ ©. iS tOme rcc23 cress ees spate ore aye pr eseue) cure eens Enosburg Falls
MiSs, -JenmMie APerry. prkosteyeeve reso eushauese clo aleeouete Svat ieiaeuerel naire Fairfax
FAZOM: SWTTCOR: wisi. Says Seczerdre. #6 os ore Nile eek Gee RRR Lee eco Fairfax

Ming PiOSCD I Vin CANIS * © 4/5 58k Sarre! SAA) eA © oP arena Bennington
EOWwanrd? “BIAaGkmer he.s5 S52 2 EAA AN PANN Were ape orci aege rennet Bennington
MTSH Wi Braedon d’® 2 2ie i558 cee oe yen he nie eae oaeeene renee Bennington
MrstCP le Elolden ™ fe 2.02 55 bs Pak Sea, Mere in rere ene Bennington
Charles! “Si HVtch cock ree ee eae i a attain eee eieeaerere Bennington
NETS SACHS RINGOT VOTO te) erated ae nteres ry Ree S ee cn te et ee Bennington
DST ef a SD lbs Ue ook Di) 0121 0.0 aioe ae tia teed ye leas cheater i curbPumesicioma his Peri Gccim otc Bennington
Miss Jeanette Perkins Sea er serh rr.) eremtreran nie eene pee Bennington
PRONE? EDP ELOSS crc cu ter ce une meh sty eee area eer ceecitere era Bennington
NERS ei EET ERO SS shacs ie Sehr ney meen anc ee a See Bennington
Ce Wee Thompson’ eves seh he ae he eee mere ee a caeaeencenentee Bennington
Miss* Jennie A® *Valentime * 224s) Saar eee a needs fccee cence Bennington
Mrsa"Mary Ke IMuUnsone 253 25,2 Soe meee a tee ere reno Manchester
Miss Blanche Sprague ........ 2a ay AR ee eS A SO Stamford

1D ipeel Dy Anche Sieh sii G0 i re ea SS IAA Gh Ars 7 6 < Middlebury
MES AW. SB EO WAT: »; << <.c:are siarcieh eo eehneiicmets Slee rors CaO een Middlebury

VERMONT Bird CLUB 35

AN, 15 SUUGHEENS 6.51B co eee enenene Seti -cleet. cic cho a Roksan eee Middlebury
TRO, LE, INES SV WATE. os ORR RE EEGs ce ch Sr set a ee ee Middlebury
IMIS, (Co. RRS Sl BYsS 01 (0, 0 0s Renae nO eRe eS oe ence | ee Vergennes
VTGISS mm TVA VL LEC 2.55 cfichc ay Siete serie Oners 6 GRRE RE ER RS aoe Vergennes
VSM VVLT UTI Die) SE LOIME? —5 5c. slast are a Snateivelosaponseomeeeeareiota aie ere Vergennes
i. (0b VUES Gao ee Pam hee ene on «DOR Cal eae Bristol
Bo Wo. TIVO GS RSER A era tee re ea nae er DESI tte yee ne cg yey) Pe Oe Bristol
IRS SMEICA LCM OLOW OGL ers ieidis ceisn loa bc dart aac Ree el ee Bristol
Mire LOSCDMINEr Sh UBTOWI) +c. 6 <cclece see ac eee on ae eee Starksboro
VSM AUT Gm oepm EME O Will ratzs, 28a) sc oteeaneceia scree a/RrS a vcrcans hh even Hee Starksboro
NV bre Ssomemisd © Taya ed Cl Qe how ep tags) castor al cnt). eh eo, o"e-e = lBudusl oc Shans senaur che heer otees Starksboro
MOMS ve OMESbe sd. olotaisciteceein Selo see - Pepa eiiagete ctstera a karate te Cee Weybridge

Rui Oh Forlon: 6. cs lck. osc lclwewe lee... Eee Brattleboro

VIS ere AVCMMD OT: acess otvietacclaatiais Slava hh nota araratane gigraeieted Brattleboro
AWM TERE LRATOND UTE OSS eee ear co ea ree oe Brattleboro
NTT ee liemet TMM S) sees arse chu scvaeuasouteteue tae wteeaheccenieae ms erete ese etist are Brattleboro
Eso © NVI aL MIL tacteyee we cheyay cvelieu gt everutieus:aeisisi cas, are 4-e Guem mueeatS South Londonderry
IWUTES).. UR TTTES SOS [EW OTS De Og Springfield
VES Sa NO Team ay MELO GIs sararsicus fi cleieiaie noah devas ciere cue eee Guilford
FLAT am TI vecere, si easecye.'s airs aia asec ehacits entanto lec bogie od SER Westminster
SUP Pram (© COLUMATTSS pete cps ge rey tarnas spacious, ave: eve! sveinave eu aaa: aves Ope Een Ae owe Westminster
O., Te, TENNEY Soebrs Bee aac ete Ao cee a en erie or eee een 0 Oe Westminster
AV TitesSman IV ei tevaP ER UTNUUTAN ta ate, cfeselisssictrere) Goh cscve: aueizv scot etude swere euaehen cre Westminster
PACE mm PLNG UL eget inte Sic sieal a s.a! Ble Sca aie las sith 85.5 alerts ohuma arate arehenee Bellows Falls
IVINS api eatevene enw CTL GE: 12 arayeye.ardeles e:aia.- sreccuelers © 4 sitare elolel aba ctatbeuerelee Windham
Sib (Cree ee Oe ig AME Bean erie Windham

VET Same LCL amG OC MAT) sce dois raciaicke CmEche Gre aan cae nace tose Hyde Park
NITE ae ViewVC Mer lAmid’ vars of actenstne setistoia oleh cciare sieve Geeieiete ewan Hyde Park
TEL, aa\r TNIGNIEISINS Bi exacts Riese tna eee ETE Ona eee ae Hyde Park
AY Usa em lepege LP apMINT ONY Sonata acs soreuny sve ches onasazche Gaseote BY sea naieaa oho suc rack tausre,-« Hyde Park
TTPSL TSO EIS Pero ie) (c ORE Pin ee 6 SIRE ick a GG Me oie OnE eee Hyde Park
CAIRO TE, DS 1B LON Ce MecRate Gra trace Dini Ole aie cipro oar bib ook eae Morrisville
AUASL (Gbnel bya JD) °8 se Kony Glaecese arapoitto.c ooo bichoib oo tae © Cae eRe on Morrisville

AVIS aera cme Deh Ciygarer tsi scucy cpeteynte: aera ekoreederc Tare Gyslio toe afc) «Soares aye Morrisville

36 BULLETIN 7

13 0)40 {al 90) (Pris in SONS SAS ts sta: Westford
Miss Meda: Rice .. <0..¢s cheese erne aes eee Bene eee Westford
Mrs: Ve A. Stome. 5 ¢ pcicalscivielen pices eile nee oietevenete aareterse cen Westford
Miss..Florence Smith »: «22.5.2. seein seed ee eee eS © eee Westford
Miss. Julia, A. Chase. ook suuwcepeves sees eek ee eRe Bakersfield
Mrs, ©. H, Morrill) facaass ects eerie ener Bakersfield
C. Be Morrill (2 hs 6s cece pocorn Cel eole DeLee LEE eee Bakersfield
Miss. Frances: iobart, sect {isco Ge ota oy ole ere rere Cambridge
Mrs:. Inez Ballamt ye... 2 coc. sasust erate ere) oreo de Rl aetna eee Hardwick
NON-RESIDENT MEMBERS.
John -Ratebie; Jie asc ks fda cis aks eee ee ee eee! Boston, Mass.
Miss ‘Caroline %Ps- Witte: cciis<itout es ater ornare eee Allston, Mass.
William Holden) isk. ..4 4 eae Ce oes Leominster, Mass.
ihe Deel a Bed igi eto ce Ie Eee oie iota n Sa oao og G65 - Northampton, Mass.
Miss? TLaiey: “WiRIte® 2 oe ysos score arco eee eerie eee Newton, Mass.
Miss Mary: LsaSantord! cee caecek cr hie me ieeeion North Adams, Mass.
Wialldlo’ Wie FURGLCIL (055 serene cssleuensueted oe Pana bate neeeiene nek aes Saratoga Springs, N. Y
“Mires. Waldo. Ly. Rich <.4+.0 acme tonne Saratoga Springs, N. Y,
Miss Adelaide: Denton’ «Sisk ae ewe eee Saratoga Springs, N. Y.
MISS ada, (CTTICK: Gist atoletn oe aed ences tee touee ene Saratoga Springs, N. Y
Mirs5 LMeVSOR, SDAVISis = 2 esta vette ae Na ee Saratoga Springs, N. Y.

Glifton ('D; Howe obser ee eee Toronto, Ont.

1, On os Bat S21 0) ct ines eh Tat ts a oe 2 - Lindsey, Cal.
Miss Ruth: Bl Misher: . 2. . ak cic coset sume cieaeny eine ee eee New York.

THE MIGRATION LISTS.

Your attention is called to the migration blank enclosed in this
bulletin. You are urged to fill out this blank as fully as possible and
ta send to the editor for more blanks when this is filled. Please send
the lists to the editor as soon as possible after Jan. 1, 1914, so that
they can be tabulated and presented at the next annual meeting of
the club. They will be published in the 1914 bulletin. You are
urged to send in your list, whether it is great or small, and to report
any observations, especially about nests and young birds, which are
not provided for on the blank. You are urged especially also to re-
pert observations of any kind about the song sparrow, to be used in
the study undertaken by the club.

sae

ce
Vermont Bird Club

BULLETIN No. 8

March, 1914

Published Annually by the Club

re Ne Ne a Ns NN

ct

ob Se
i.

cai

Vermont Bird Club

BULLETIN No. 8

March, 1914

Published Annually by the Club

= ECTION.
Nah a f 28
BURLINGTON, VT.:

FREE PRESS PRINTING COMPANY,
1914.

OFFICERS OF THE

VERMONT BIRD CLUB, 1914

PRESIDENT «ss wisiac suche srgiaceta ieleusiele nlaverersters Dr. G. H. Perkins, Burlington
WASH ENS AY Goaghoboo bua soaoonooanDans Dr. L. H. Ross, Bennington
SP OBMUEA BY 0 ictcne te te lonorchceerietensetesisie eredope ious Mr. Carlton D. Howe, Morrisville
CPRAASUIRER © crisis cine ool hone ene keke recat Mr. Jay G. Underwood, Hartland

EDITOR OF BULLETIN

Mrs. A. B. Morgan, Woodstock.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

ast) OL JOMCErS hie cial ais eis aim & cactece eae Slates ote SO oo ag Oe 2
Tabbew@T SCORtCNES on5 455 caliece o:<-siusleve-oyors, ays 310 oie oa) Bietae one eee ee 2
The Amniual Winter Meeting . .. 26.6. os sce < bis oles axe everett oie renee 3
New Membeéers°of the Bird Club 222 .2.5..225 520 sue eee 4
Treasurer's: ReMOrt: sci ere cs epe ss v.s wipers frei oiel eee 0:1 owes OIRO eee 5)
Extract from the Shiras-Weeks-McLean Migratory Bird Law...... 6
Local Nature Clubs in Vermont—Jay G. Underwood................ tl
Relation of Nature Clubs to the Schools—Dr. H. F. Perkins........ 11
Nesting of the Short-billed Marsh Wren in Vermont—H. G. Rugg....13
Birds of the West Indies—Josephine S. Brown .................... 14
Pitty Babe’ (Merula Micratoria)—Cora G. By hiclda..) 7 15
Notes on Nesting Habits of Duck Hawks in Rutland County—
1D Fae Dae C3 a ee A eee eee Nr, Some aah obci Ao sce cc. © 23
Notes on Nesting Habits of the Song Sparrow—G. W. Fuller........ 24
Notes; on Birds—Hdith M. Hsterbrook <5... 2.4... ase eee 25
Notes on Elorida Birds—Bbvaline) D) Morgan’ 30... 20sec 26
BhheeBirds—F. H: Hart’ . 706... sce ne eae sc ccsieee 0a 29
Henslow’s Sparrow in Vermont—G. 1 Kirk 7.......4-2 one 30
Birds of Bennington and Vicinity—Dr. L. H. Ross................. 31
POUDGCTS alec is claisleranele arate oye le. wr ehe Vor Ne alict ovat a VeTroneuoi or ebeles Recent 43
INOCOS ies evalee o's Slate 2 eveele lee Oa a. chobcheeeveteis STRTORe On CPSRCIS 6] oi ore ten REE oa etna dd

/

THE ANNUAL WINTER MEETING

The fourteenth annual winter meeting of the Vermont Bird Club
was held in conjunction with the Vermont Botanical Club at the Wil-
liams Science Hall, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vt., on Friday
and Saturday, Jan. 30 and 31, 1914. The first session began at 10
o’clock Friday A. M., with the President, Dr. G. H. Perkins, in the
chair. Prof. G. P. Burns, Mrs. W. B. Jolley and Mr. H. G. Rugg were
appointed a committee to make arrangements for the next summer
meeting. The President appointed the following persons as members
of the Nominating Committee for the two Clubs: Mr. D. S. Carpen-
ter, Miss M. A. Strong, Mr. C. D. Howe. A report of the ‘Nature
Club Committee’ was presented by Mr. J. G. Underwood through Dr.
H. F. Perkins. The report was adopted and it was voted to continue
the committee. Mr. C. D. Howe presented the following resolution,
which was adopted by a vote of the Club:

Resolved, That the members of the Vermont Bird Club work for
and urge the passage of a law by the next General Assembly of Ver-
mont making the State forests, heretofore and hereafter acquired by
the State, reservations or refuges for bird and animal life.

The following papers were read: The Nesting of the Short-billed
Marsh Wren in Vermont, by Mr. H. G. Rugg; Birds of the West Indies,
by Mrs. Josephine Brown of Bristol; Birds of Florida, by Mrs. A. B.
Morgan of Woodstock.

At the afternoon session Mrs. Nellie F. Flynn reported the sum-
mer meeting of 1913; Prof. G. P. Burns reported a plan for doing
ecological work with birds and plants by local nature clubs; The Rela-
tion of Nature Clubs to the Schools, by Dr. H. F. Perkins; Duck Hawks
in Rutland County, by Duane E. Kent of Rutland. The session closed
with an illustrated lecture on Habitat Groups by Miss Alice W. Wilcox
of the Fairbanks Museum of St. Johnsbury.

At six o’clock the annual supper and roll call was held at Grass
Mount, followed by a lecture on Blackberries of Vermont, by Dr. Ezra
Brainerd.

The following papers were read at the Saturday morning session:
Birds of Bennington and Vicinity, by Dr. L. H. Ross; The Story of a
Tame Robin, by Miss Cora G. B. Field of Rutland; A Short Story of
an Unfortunate, by Mrs. Eliza F. Miller of Bethel; Nesting Habits of

4 BULLETIN 8

the Song Sparrow, by Mr. G. Whittier Fuller of White River Junction;
Wild Mammals of Vermont, by Mr. Frank S. Hoag of Cambridge.

The nominating committee presented the following officers for the
ensuing year, who were elected by the vote of the Club: President,
Dr. G. H. Perkins of Burlington; Vice-President, Dr. L. H. Ross of
Bennington; Secretary, Mr. C. D. Howe of Morrisville; Treasurer, Mr.
J. G. Underwood of Hartland; Editor of the Bulletin, Mrs. A. B. Mor-
gan of Woodstock.

Thirty-three people were elected to the membership of the Club,
whose names appear elsewhere. Adjournment.

C. D. Howe, Secretary.

NEW MEMBERS OF THE BIRD CLUB

classified according to their respective groups:

BURLINGTON GROUP

Mrs: (Guy (Bs BLOrtoncice is = ss eco wists = sists folein Boys Slog cucteletener Ol aae Burlington
Miss Sis Hl dora HOG SeSiey 6 sneered citeysieysieisetnconcneish «ondiajoRNcaapaanenemene Burlington
Mr. evi 2: SHEER esa: focie aptats oe cinerea eh as stereo oyans beeen Burlington
Miss) Berthia Merrill beste ote ais: 0-<eareponete acancatie sys ouercuers! eke eee ’.Burlington
Miss Merle: mA 4:< caer f ee ocopetnire ote obeys chanve aueietelc aus Mueneyentione choca Hinesburg
Miss. EB. SJOrdan~ iectrs sires cts.cc eeotarmonie disp. Sesion ceeds Jericho Center
St. JOHNSBURY GROUP
MISS@A my 2J.* Bartleteess cas B.Sc Sita.. aseetergtlalome ete cteteiehoetn St. Johnsbury
Miss: Katherine, Bingham’). fac sie cn cresstetes-elee shots tonbaeaene St. Johnsbury
Miss Abbie Dillingham) Le\)..chah let beeen ak eerie St. Johnsbury
MASS HEM learnor,, DOAN \: cscs © 0 Tee cote ate Shalntns microm ed eerie St. Johnsbury
Miss “Dorothy: airbanks 224. At foteres preset che sue heater St. Johnsbury
Mrs’ ‘Rebecta) *Mairbaniks. Rar atis dehrecdiite sro taste kere St. Johnsbury
Mrs, Alvin WEL 9.,5...st4 a ere ve hoi eke bre ieee epeieteere St. Johnsbury
Mrs, ) Artic iE @leason! \", 2:65. Process. eRe eee St. Johnsbury
Rev.) Edward JP: Wee... 20. hates ram, lean eae eee aetaene St. Johnsbury
Mrss-Kadiward: Ps dh66) <a eahactrteibepaes eee caterer St. Johnsbury
Mrée;cPaul Di Moody: 228225. Sitio seisesd ve Os. c oe eee St. Johnsbury
Miss. cisabel vB. NOES! 26) ahs. t cake nee ates eee ene St. Johnsbury
Miss) Berni@emBierce) «20a... Recicheatetocte mlerentua etaeen oheneketeh one St. Johnsbury

Miss) Anna sStevens:: ot. hiss: ontac mttaee< o chomereeare eit ete aeroene St. Johnsbury

VERMONT BrrD CLUB 5

INL ANTHEA C0) 1K 2 Prin ea ee ae A on ee ee St. Johnsbury

Misselhiaver A. Shields oo... 6 00s oc mete ee ot oeheneiene wiereiete St. Johnsbury

Mire rnest oH. OKINTIET | 5... 5c. ic avd Se thele Stare tre ene cee mater ere Passumpsic

Sm Viclryalue “WWIHCELED . ccc cus os ce abe ee alo niche onion tana Barton
MONTPELIER GROUP

Em De rule: TTP PS: —< ces evelsvevs evers, 0 20 evexerahesstearareietens East Montpelier

MISSA VC Ly GODUETIC «01/0 <forspeisrersic eel chee rlste aa bara OTS ere Ree Plainfield

sree ATC EESOM evs cic aie srclaiec Gin ow ols: one aern piuemo srenete heroes Waterbury

WHITE RIVER JUNCTION GROUP

MS SEZ AOU MILLI 28k fe ec cls Seecpse, «cis: « ois 5)0's ce sie cee Woodstock

SPER HOT AO HNO Waker eet ilelerecciets « t-0, 8 8. dard 3 aye Toe Eee Fairlee

ApEn ANE Ts Cesee TAO WUD eire shatcavaiietel wiie? &e%'e i cin ap tw delle exer eee eee Fairlee
BENNINGTON GROUP

AVIS SAT ULAR NVOGOG) A cicistele cts ss sos ob do ws cles we ot srateieiene Bennington
BRATTLEBORO GROUP

MRE ize De tn AE ES wes ie ovals) 5 ecsialais Sard <lsijaie. 0 37 eis SOO Re ee Brattleboro

NON-RESIDENT
Wn Clse bial NGOS. o-.% sie c.ccce so «cle dea-ne 2 Garde em eee Boston

TREASURER’S REPORT
JANUARY 24, 1914

RECEIPTS

PeME PEC ee Fer LOIS py Ao cals ek esis Lalo Dawei word ean Gee eee $60 83
SMH UIMCUES BTECELVEU, (5.5 .c1e's a ss. 5, 00s o.s 6 ¥/e0s ai ois. cs oe ken oe 103 00
Maree DET HHI pY FECCLVER °. i Niev. ocala olche chai so eels ow Oa groan 10 00
PMC NU ATICOUS pests) dye ctoie a a(\ cis :krs.ale od wai a Sloth od ne eo ee ee 20
Vermont Botartieal Clab, expenses ..........0...0cec0cececer B33"
$179 36

PAID

Winter meeting, Feb. 19, 1913, expemses..................000. $7 75) 95
puemaer iWeeting, 1913, expenses . oo... 6.6 cc ecw eccees 6 65
EE MRARIED SONNE. Se oS 05 5 ccs erates OE ee ed Ob eee Sob We 6 27
EAE 215.90 ose Wert Maas abo hlesg ncbewwl ok 8 00

EE CPmR ITEM RAS Oo Sees Soe tbe a iG Wedlele cacclee dle « 56 68

6 BULLETIN 8

Treasurer's CXPECNSES:. cic be oh ee sre Se mie siete wroleus ste eee te eateeieeen ate 30 34
Vermont Botanical Club, one-half expense Foresters.......... 1 32
Life membership deposited in bank... 2... 2.50 enc ee sane an 10 00
Vermont Botanical Club, expenses summer meeting.......... 5 33

$130 54
Jan. 24; 2914) cash on Handi. dies ote.e < le eicte elec) ol ee eiel eee tenenaee 48 82

$179 36

LirE MEMBERSHIP FUND
Deposited in Chittenden County Trust Co., two life memberships.$ 20 00
ACerued! IMECTESE ss cc.cceuera dye.c Sareea ene lg Sere ethane | Le chattel et eat eee erent LO

Mortal Pek s cco sda arc eteete ota eels ie ooke. Suedekolny oor stntnks ta etey ae $ 21 10
JAY G. UNDERWOOD, Treas.
Read and accepted Jan. 31, 1914.

EXTRACT FROM THE SHIRAS-WEEKS-McLEAN MI-
GRATORY BIRD LAW

REGULATIONS FOR THE PROTECTION OF MIGRATORY BIRDS

Regulation I. Definitions—For the purposes of these regulations

the following shall be considered migratory game birds:

(a) Anatidae or waterfowl, brant, wild ducks, geese and swans.

(b) Gruidae or cranes, including little brown, sandhill, and whoop-
ing cranes.

(c) Rallidae or rails, including coots, gallinules, and sora and
other rails.

(d) Limicolae or shore birds, including avocets, curlew, dowitch-
ers, godwits, knots, oyster catchers, phalaropes, plover, sand-
pipers, snipe, stilts, surf birds, turnstones, willet, woodcock
and yellowlegs.

(e) Columbidae or pigeons, including doves and wild pigeons.

For the purposes of these regulations the following shall be con-

sidered migratory insectivorous birds:

(f) Bobolinks, catbirds, chickadees, cuckoos, flycatchers, gros-
beaks, humming birds, kinglets, martins, meadow larks, night

VERMONT BirD CLUB 7

hawks or bull bats, nuthatches, orioles, robins, shrikes, swal-
lows, Swifts, tanagers, titmice, thrushes, vireos, warblers,
waxwings, whippoorwills, woodpeckers, and wrens, and all
perching birds which feed entirely or chiefly on insects.
Other regulations of the bill include No. 2, closed season at night;
Reg. No. 3, closed season on insectivorous birds; Reg. No. 4, five-year
closed season on certain game birds; Reg. No. 5, closed season on cer-
tain navigable rivers; Reg. No. 6, zones; Reg. No. 7, construction;
Regs. Nos. 8 and 9, closed seasons in zone Nos. 1 and 2.

LOCAL NATURE CLUBS IN VERMONT

JAY G. UNDERWOOD, Hartland

There are three active Nature Clubs to my knowledge in the State,
the Arboreta Walking Club, Burlington; the Burlington Nature Club,
and the Hartland Nature Club.

The Arboreta Walking Club was organized Oct. 1, 1910. There are
seventeen active members and five honorary members. The admission
fee is 25 cents and the annual dues are 60 cents. Fifty-two meetings
were held during 1913. One field trip was taken by the Club members,
and there have been on the average two walks per week taken by in-
dividuals for study. During the past year a special study has been
made of biology and kindred subjects. The secretary is Miss Ethel W.
Robbins, 249 Church St., Burlington.

The Burlington Nature Club was organized April 27, 1905, at an
informal meeting which followed a lecture by Prof. George H. Hudson
on “The Camera as an Aid to Nature Study.” It was the desire of
several of the members of the State Bird and Botanical Clubs in form-
ing a local society to conserve and use some of the enthusiasm engen-
dered by the annual meetings and to arouse a general interest in the
community in nature subjects.

The organization is as informal as possible. The officers consist
of a president and a secretary-treasurer. The only regular meeting is
the annual one on Arbor Day. There are no dues except the initial
membership fee of 25 cents. The plan of the Club has been to take
tramps under the leadership of some local nature student; to occasion-
ally take a more ambitious trip, aS on one occasion it went by steamer

8 BULLETIN 8

to Four Brothers Islands to study the herring-gull; and to co-operate
with the city library and the public schools in nature work.

The secretary is Mrs. Hattie K. Forbes, 215 Pearl St., Burlington.

The Hartland Nature Club was organized in 1907, has fifty mem-
bers, admission fee and annual dues 50 cents. In 1913 the Club held
twelve regular monthly meetings, of which the five of summer were in
the field. It has an herbarium of about 1,500 sheets, nearly all Ver-
mont species. It has a valuable collection of insects in Denton mounts
and case provided by the generosity of one of its members. A miscel-
laneous collection of interesting specimens as well as the beginnings
of a nature library adds to its ability to reach those of varying tastes
in nature subjects. Perhaps its continued success is largely due to
the fact that several of its members are thoroughly interested and sci-
entifically inclined, as well as to the plan of meeting but once a month.
The secretary is Miss Emeline Webster, Hartland. Following is the
program for 1914:

PROGRAM OF THE HARTLAND NATURE CLUB FOR 1914

Meetings—The second Saturday of each month. From May to Sep-
tember inclusive, meetings are out of doors. The mornings are devoted
to exploring epeditions with basket picnic at one. Localities are given
on the program. The February, March and April meetings will be held
at the home of some member in the village. The place of the fall meet-
ings will be announced later.

Afternoon program: Two to three, business and reports; three to
four, papers. Club called to order and meetings close on time.

Special Work—The special work suggested for the Club for this
year is as follows: Practical uses of our native plants continued; the
study of grasses and insects.

January 13—Annual meeting and roll call.

February 14—Book reviews, Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Johnston; Nature Work
in School, Miss Lobdell.

March 14—Trees in Winter, Mrs. Underwood; Abandoned Industries,
Mr. Ruggles.

April 11—Ten Butterflies We Should Know, Mrs. Durphey; Snow Shoes
and Nature, Mr. Graham.

May 9 (Meeting at center of the town)—Observations on Salentia, Miss
Emeline Webster; Observations on Birds, Mrs. Moore.

June 13 (Exploration of Snail Swamp)—Uses of Our Trees: for Fuel
and Timber, Miss Rogers; for Food, Miss Webster.

VERMONT Brirp CLUB 9

July 11 (Exploration of Spruce Swamp)—Subject to be announced
later, Miss Sturtevant; A Dozen Moths We Should Know,
Mr.. Rugg.

August 8 (Visitors’ meeting at “The Highlands”’)—Notes, Miss Bil-
lings; paper, to be announced.

September 12 (Meeting near the river, opposite Hart Island)—Grasses
of “The Highlands,” Miss Darling; Animals and Insects
of “The Highlands,’ Mrs. Morgan.

October 8—Why We Should Know Our Wild Berries, Mrs. Merritt;
Pebbles, Miss Nelson.

November 14—Nature in My Garden, Miss Penniman; A Few of the
Insects Seen on Hart Island, Mr. Underwood.

December 12—Baskets, Mrs. Spear; Symposium on Basket Making with
Exhibit; Our Game and Water Birds, Mr. John Webster.

Editor-in-Chief—Miss Darling.

Sub-Editors—Astronomy, Mr. Graham; Animals (including all ani-
mal life except birds and insects), Mrs. Durphey; Birds, Mrs. Merritt;
Insects, Mrs. Morgan; Plants, Mr. Rugg; Geology, Mr. Ruggles; Micro-
scopy, Mrs. D. C. Webster.

Officers—President, Miss Nelson; Vice-President, Mr. Underwood;
Sec’y-Treasurer, Miss Emeline Webster; Executive Committee, Miss
Webster, Mr. Rugg, with the above officers; Curator, Mrs. Underwood.

Mrs. Straw of Stowe reports that there is an enthusiastic Nature
Club in Montpelier, but I have been unable to obtain information con-
cerning it.

Apart from these clubs much interesting and efficient work is
being done by various organizations in the State, the Fairbanks Mu-
seum at St. Johnsbury taking high rank. The following outline of lec-
tures gives a good idea of the work done there:

1. Why Study Birds?—Oct. 30, 1913.

2. Plumage of Birds—Nov. 18, 1913.

3. Our Permanent Residents—Nov. 25, 1913.

4. Winter Habits of Birds—Dec. 16, 1913.

5. Migration—Jan. 20, 1914.

6. The Bird: its Structure and Functions—Jan. 27, 1914.
7. Home-life of Wild Birds—Feb. 17, 1914.

8. Bird-Song—Feb. 24, 1914.

9. General discussions—March 17, 1914.

10. Water Birds—March 24, 1914.

10 BULLETIN 8

The Librarian of the Bennington Public Library and a teacher in
the High School are doing active work in interesting the young people
in nature study, and nearly all the libraries of the larger towns are
emphasizing this phase of their work.

The Camp Fire Girls and Boy Scouts are two organizations in
which nature work is a special feature. The exploration of a cave by
Boy Scouts under a scout master of Proctor led to the discovery of a
bat new to science, as well as the addition of other members of the bat
tribe to the mammals of Vermont.

The: Audubon Society recently re-organized under the leadership of
Dr. A. E. Lambert of Middlebury College, is now in a position to do
efficient work.

Clubs that have been active in the past are the Brandon Nature
Club, the Brattleboro Club under the inspiration of Mrs. E. B. Daven-
port, the Bellows Falls Bird Club, and the Woodstock Nature Club.
Summer classes in natural history under the able leadership of Prof.
A. P. Morse of Wellesley College have created in Woodstock and vicin-
ity renewed interest and enthusiasm.

A project, known as the section plan, suggested by Mr. Harry L.
Piper, proposes to form the members of the State Clubs into nuclei for
local clubs, so that members and all interested in nature study in ad-
joining towns may receive help and inspiration by meeting together.
A meeting of this kind was held in September at the home of Miss
Elizabeth Billings, Woodstock, when the White River Junction group
and the Hartland Nature Club met in joint session. This same group
plans to hold a meeting in May at White River Junction. Active co-
operation on the part of every member of the State Clubs in this plan
is earnestly desired.

In closing this brief survey of the facts which I have been able to
gather about Nature Study in Vermont at the present time, I wish to
urge the organized clubs to seek to reach the isolated nature students
of our small towns and offer them help, fellowship and encouragement
as well as to indicate to them some definite studies to follow. ’

VERMONT BirRD CLUB ial

RELATION OF NATURE CLUBS TO THE SCHOOLS
Dr. Henry F. PERKINS, University of Vermont

Organizing school clubs.

Exhibits.

Organizing and directing or assisting in field trips.
Vacation work.

Lectures and talks at the schools.

In order to interest the children in various kinds of nature work,
it may be carried on as a club, rather than as a class in the school.
The teacher or one of the outside members of the club may supervise
the club, but the conference and constitution, if any, and the details
of the plans should be entirely in the hands of the children them-
selves. In some local nature clubs this work with the children con-
stitutes the most promising and interesting part of the activities of
the organization and it reacts favorably on the interest of all the mem-
bers. Such school clubs may work out their own programs, which
would probably include some or all of the following:

1. Spring reports of birds and wild flowers seen by the children
promotes a friendly rivalry in getting the first records and longest
lists. Collecting of wild flowers and observing the nesting habits and
feeding of birds.

2. Summer vacation. Members of club who remain at home dur-
ing the summer or who are together in small groups at camping places,
ete., will continue their study of flowers and birds and add a study of
rocks and the stars, and other objects of nature, reporting at intervals
to the teacher or club leader.

3. Autumn. Reports wil! be made in school of the activities of
the members during vacation and suitable recognition may be made
of the best work by the members. Friends may be interested to the
extent of giving small prizes, such as books on nature study. Work
for the winter may be organized and a preliminary study of the plants
or animals upon which work is to be done may be carried on.

4. Winter. Feeding of birds at the schools and at the homes,
or at bird lunch counters, maintained at various points by the parent
club. The trees offer very considerable material for the winter study
and encourage out-of-door trips by the pupils. The evergreens may be
taken first. A simple descriptive pamphlet should be put in the hands
of the members and specimens of foliage and fruit gathered and put

Hua >

12 BULLETIN 8

on exhibition in the schools. Competitions may be arranged for best
collections in the point of quality and number of specimens and cor-
rectness of naming. Other tree groups may be taken in succession.
The best specimens collected by the children may be put on exhibition
in some public place, such as the local library, at close of the work.

It is the aim of the plan outlined Above to interest children in our
schools in nature for the sake of the pleasure that they get out of it.
It should produce interest in careful observation of nature and a de-
sire to learn all that they can about what they see and collect. Hasty
observation and uncertain identifying of specimens should be strictly
ruled out by the teacher or other person in charge of the work of the
club. In this way a premium is placed upon careful, accurate work,
and that should always be emphasized, rather than longest lists and
largest collections made. It is my personal opinion that this sort of
organized work, supervised by a capable person, is apt to be of at
least as much value as the nature study included in the ordinary school
curriculum.

B. Exhibits. When it is not convenient for one person to take
the direction of the nature club and attend to all the details attended
with it, others may be enlisted in preparation of the school exhibits,
the identification of plants and birds, which are at all difficult to make
out and the assembling of choice specimens in some central place.
This should be a clearing house for the collections in the schools and
should represent the older club members as well as the school club.
The best illustration of this that is at hand is the exhibit maintained
by the Museum of Natural History at St. Johnsbury. Not only should
the specimens be put on exhibition correctly named, but so far as pos-
sible, interesting data in regard to the distribution, habits and fre-
quency of occurrence should appear in neat and legible labels. The
newspapers may be glad to co-operate by publishing on certain days
the lists as they are made out by the representative of the Nature
Club, and especial pains should be taken to give the young members
credit for their observations.

C. Field trips. The trips which children may be encouraged to
take in small groups may be depended upon to do the most of the
work that is outlined above. It will be advisable, however, to organize
trips of the nature clubs on which children are invited to go. The
trips should be planned with this in view; should, therefore, not be
too long as to length, or too difficult. A mistake is apt to be made

VERMONT BirD CLUB ; 1183

in this connection in taking the trip too seriously, trying to go too
far or to see too many or too remarkable phenomena.

D. Vacation work. It is during the vacations, not only the sum-
mer varations, but also those that come in the winter and spring, that
the parents and children can work together to the best advantage in
making progress in the observation and study of nature. If the trips
which are organized are planned to be in the nature of picnics, either
by land or by water, the numbers of children and adults who will be
glad to participate will be thereby increased. The children should be
encouraged and helped to write down their observations to use when
school opens in giving their reports.

If the schools offer courses in nature study, these plans may be
somewhat modified and the purpose of making the work as enjoyable
as possible and encouraging out-of-door life and trips into the woods
will be found a valuable aid by the school teacher.

The suggestions given above are planned in hope that it may be
possible to make such organized effort on the part of the grown-ups,
and the children also, tend toward the increase of interest and enjoy-
ment that we should all take in the objects for which the Botanical
and Bird Clubs were organized and are so hopefully maintained.

NESTING OF THE SHORT-BILLED MARSH WREN
IN VERMONT

Harotp G. RuaG, Hanover

This last summer it was my good fortune to visit with two other
members of the Hanover Bird Club, a swamp in Thetford, Vt., long
famous to the bird lovers of Hanover. I was induced to take the trip
on being assured that I should see a colony of the short-billed marsh
wren. On previous visits the same season to this swamp, my friends
had found nests of the marsh hawk containing four eggs, of the Ameri-
can bittern containing five eggs, and nests of some of the smaller birds
as well as one of this rare little wren.

I had hoped to find this swamp interesting also from a botanical
point of view, but was disappointed. The vegetation in this Thetford
swamp, several acres in extent, is mainly grasses and sedges with
alder scrub. Wading through the deep sedges I was soon startled by

14 BULLETIN 8

a song new to me and of such quality that I at once knew that it must
be that of the wren in question. These birds were fairly common in
this swamp. They were usually carefully concealed and were singing
while clinging to some swaying bit of grass. When one bird had been
located and its habits noted, the others were not so difficult to find.
This nest discovered on a,previous expedition was found to be deserted
and so was taken for the Hanover collection. It is stated that this
wren has the habit of building several nests in one season and that
this is done for purposes of protection. This nest, globular in shape,
entirely of old dried sedges and grasses lined with dry leaves and a
little plant down, was only about two feet from the ground and fas-
tened to a tussock of growing sedges, undoubtedly some species of
carex, which my botanical friends would recognize.

This wren is, I believe, rather rare throughout New England, and
so far as I know this is the first record of the bird for Vermont. It
has nested in this same swamp for two years. The entire upper parts
of this wren are streaked with white, black, and buff, wing and tail
coverts are barred, the under parts unbarred and white. The call
notes, says Seton, are like the sound of two tiny pebbles struck to-
gether. The song has the same quality as the call notes.

Later in the season the swamp was visited by others, a specimen
of the short-billed marsh wren was taken and placed in the Museum at
Hanover, so that now there is no question as to the authenticity of
the bird.

In this same swamp, the.swamp sparrow also was common. A
song unfamiliar to us all was frequently heard, and the bird finally
located with much difficulty.. This bird was a sparrow without doubt
and after considerable study it was verified as the rare Henslow’s
sparrow.

BIRDS OF THE WEST INDIES

JOSEPHINE S. Brown, Bristol

Birds of the West Indies was the name I gave my paper, but I
think a more appropriate title would have been, Scarcity of Birds in
the West Indies. It is lamentably true that there are few song birds
in that beautiful tropical country.

VERMONT BrrD CLUB 15

Did you ever stop to think how much sweetness would be lost to
the landscape if the feathered songsters were eliminated from it? This
never came to me very forcibly until I visited one of the loveliest spots
on earth and realized that somehow, in spite of all its marvelous love-
liness to the eye, it was dumb and lacking in some vital respect. At
last it came to me, this place lacks but one thing to make it almost an
earthly paradise, and that real thing is birds.

Down there I saw the beauties of the bluest of skies, a verdure
of surpassing loveliness and its tropical vivid colored waters, constantly
changing from pale blue to green and sapphire colors that artists can-
not do justice to, but for hours and even days at a time not a single
song came from a bird’s throat. It is difficult to quite describe the
sense of sadness, almost desolation, which this birdless paradise
brought to me. This so troubled me that I began to inquire into the
reason, and was told that song birds had become practically extinct
by natives killing and trapping them in every conceivable way. There
are laws now for their protection, but the mischief has been done and
with the small number of song birds left, it will be years before they
will multiply sufficiently to repopulate the woods and fields to anything
like the extent of bird life we enjoy in the United States.

I was told the pretty little yellow banana birds are increasing quite
fast, also the sugar bird. I saw only one mocking bird in my three
months’ stay, where they used to be plentiful, I was told. An Ameri-
can going into a country where bird life has been reduced almost to
the vanishing point, naturally compels one to ask what do the birds
give us in return for the mere chance to live? They ask so little from
us in exchange for their unstinted outpouring of friendly song. God
has made all things beautiful and I think it must please Him when
He sees us love, protect and admire them.

“PITTY BABE” (MERULA MIGRATORIA)
Cora G. B. Fretp, Rutland

Some of us are born to responsibility; some achieve responsibili-
ties, and some have robins presented to us.

Significant events often come unheralded; sauntering into our
lives in the most casual manner, and incognito; and when in early

16 BULLETIN $§

autumn a frightened, rumpled baby-robin was placed in my hands,
together with a tiny vial of chloroform, there was no intimation of
the dominant factor he would become in my life through the impress
of his strong individuality.

Fate, in the shape of a sudden, summer storm had tossed him
homeless and helpless, into the tender care of ‘Little Missy” and “Bud.”

The nestling partners of his desperate plight succumbed to the
strenuous experience; but he survived; and with a devoted household
to dance attendance from four o’clock (A. M.) till “sleepy time” he
grew and waxed strong and was duly christened “Robbie.”’

With the freedom of house and grounds he came and went in
fearless familiarity. When his sponsors left Vermont for their south-
ern home Robbie was elected a fellow-traveler, but with misgivings
that justified the chloroform. At Rutland he had so nearly committed
suicide, in his terror, that he was surrendered to my care and dis-
cretion. A branch of a tree was brought into the house for a perch
and haven of refuge, and from this point of vantage he took a bird’s-
eye view of his surroundings and soon dominated the situation. The
chloroform bottle retired further and further into the recesses of the
medicine closet, but Pitty Babe holds the center of the stage in our
family circle. His new name was given him when it became evident
that he was not to be classed with the common or garden variety of
robins; nor considered merely a piece of mechanism, a thing of utility,
an ordinary insect destroyer; but a bit of imprisoned life, intelligence
and individuality; and no interpretation of him can be purely technical
and coldly scientific. In bird-dom he emphatically is sui generis, de-
veloping unexpected traits and, with close human companionship, some
almost human attributes. The abrupt transition from country soli-
tudes to city sights and sounds; from the freedom of the open to im-
penetrable walls, from natural to artificial diet, was sorely trying. We
soothed his little timidities, respected his little reserves, sympathized
with his little trials. He soon recovered his wonted poise and cheeri-
ness and charmed us with soft trilling notes from a tremulous ruffled
throat. But presently he ceased this and seemed to have forgotten the
songs his mother used to sing. He makes more civilized, far less
musical sounds,—for he talks! He tilts his head and listens while we
murmur in his ear, “What a joy you are, Pitty Babe, you are almost
too good to be true.” Then he braces himself. His eyes widen. He
makes strange sounds in his swelling throat. He answers! Only to

VERMONT Bird CLUB 17

the initiated is it given to interpret them, but always his various calls
are responsive and significant. He kisses prettily; putting up his bill
and giving a dainty little peck; though to me the experience is a good
deal like kissing a carpet tack. Then he cuddles under my chin. I
close my eyes. He closes his eyes. I peep and he peeps and seems
thoroughly to enjoy this game of hide and seek. From the first he has .
manifested this spirit of camaraderie and has never learned to flock
by himself, but cries complainingly if left alone. After a little, a
large cage was hung in a vine-shaded window. In it tempting food
was placed and gradually he was beguiled therein—and the door was
closed, In pathetic bewilderment he searched vainly for the door that
was and then was not. A Peri at the gates! He submitted, finally,
to the inevitable; but he had learned the universal lesson—the faith-
lessness of the human kind. He had been tricked and trapped, and
though loosed again, not for many a day would he come, as twilight
fell, to nestle on my shoulder, but when the lights came out he fled
swiftly to some high, dark refuge, and crouched silent and watchful,
resenting approach and capture with sharp nips and quite unseemly
language. This was the first dawning upon his bird mind of the un-
reliability of the human, and though reconciled now to occasional and
necessary captivity, the iron of suspicion has evidently entered his soul.
He trusts us with mental reservations, as if our tenderest advances
might conceal some ulterior and sinister motive. He has a singularly
measuring look with which he ‘sizes us up” and that gives one a
breathless, hoping, fearing, at-the-bar-of-judgment feeling, as if daring
the fiat of the elemental,—of generic love and faith and truth. At
night Pitty Babe is a fine example of the promptings of racial instinct;
striving restlessly for the highest branches of his ancestral tree;
springing upward from his topmost perch and bumping his head, un-
heeded against his cage. He has never forgotten his early life of
freedom on his native heath and gazes into the blue with fixed eye
and plaintive, moaning sound.
He follows the flight of the pigeons with a cry that plainly says

“O, for the wings of a dove!” The first falling snow was a source of
surprise and perplexity. He watched the large flakes float by as if
wondering whether they were a strange variety of insect or white-
winged birds fallen from a white bird-paradise in the skies. In May
he began moulting. With the loss of his feathers there fell upon him
a melancholy and loss of self-confidence. There is undeniable moral

18 BULLETIN 8

support in being well dressed and a very “Ragged Robin” would stand
motionless before the mirror and survey himself long and solemnly in
apparent disapproval. With the loss of his tail for a rudder his flight
was awkward and uncertain. We then called him ‘Bobs” for short.
He would launch himself with a scream of doubt and fear, alighting
.on my shoulder with an air of astonishment that he should safely have
arrived. But his plumage is coming in richer, darker and with dif-
ferent markings. Some of his tail feathers are tipped with white.
His vanity is reasserting itself. He struts self-consciously and we now
call him the ‘‘Major.” He poses for his picture with keen interest in
its progress. Then he attempts to draw the finished likeness into his
cage together with all the brushes he can reach.

For his own amusement he is allowed my best double-ender camel’s-
hair, which he worries to a frazzle. It is fun for him but death to
the brush;—but—what would you? He has various self-taught stunts;
for instance, he jumps over an alarm clock, hitting the bell with his
toes, listens intently to see where the sound comes from, and repeats
the performance. He is always on a still hunt for rubber bands. He
pecks and kills these near-worms and swallows them hastily in some
secluded corner, with one eye on us; for hasn’t he often been “un-
ravelled” before he could actually encompass them? ‘They will give
you a pain in your midst,” I say severely; ‘besides, a bird full of rub-
ber bands is liable to bounce up into the air and never come down
again!”

When scolded for his offences he cries resentfully but rarely re-
peats them without peeping to see if he is observed; and if so he ex-
presses his feelings by climbing to his highest perch, turning his back
upon us and gazing steadily out of the window. The hauteur of that
back is the most impressive thing I ever saw! p

While hunting for the traditional early worm he pulls up tender
young plants and chews off their roots, hurring from one to another
in a carnival of mischief. “Bad boy, stop it!” I command. He crouches
low and looking up into my face begs, in the most appealing tone,
“O please let me just this once!” I surrender, horse, foot and dragoon.
“OQ Pitty Babe, you can have anything in this house that you want,
when you ask like that!” He can now lead me with a string. My
knowledge of robins, you perceive, is entirely theoretical and academic
and it is evident that I am training him along the lines of least re-
sistance. In point of fact J am the one in training, and I am learning

VERMONT BirD CLUB 19

many things, as one may by merging one’s own individuality in an-
other’s, even a bird’s.

In her idyllic sequel to the Secret Garden Mrs. (Frances Hodgson)
Burnett says that an intimacy with an English Robin is a liberal edu-
cation. She spells it with a capital “R’ because he is a “person,” an
“aristocrat,” “patrician”; but while my more democratic American
robin answers to the roll-call of the thrushes he is no less a “person”
and a “little Soul,’ a harmony of vibrant life, color and sound.

Also he is quite as clever and has more psychology, because, in-
stead of natural development in the open, there is necessary adapta-
tion to human environment, and enforced cerebration along evolution-
ary lines that leads one to speculate on future possibilities.

But to become wholly en rapport, one must be a robin to a robin;
of another, and perhaps not entirely superior, order, and yet a robin.
So, following Mrs. Burnett’s formula, I tried to establish kinship with
this “little Soul.” ‘I held myself very still and made tender little
robin sounds. I shut my eyes and felt like a robin. I made magic.
I lured him with the other and more exquisite sense that speaks with-
out speech,” she says.

So I studied the different robin calls as they sounded from matin
to vesper in the high elms near by. I twittered and chirped and
cheeped. I made shrill sounds, soft sounds; wierd, unholy sounds
some of them were, but that improved with diligent practice. I cul-
tivated a clear, high whistle till it became chronic, automatic; in short,
that whistled itself and finally developed into a robust, full-grown
whistle that any small boy might be proud of.

I did not, myself, know what all these various sounds stood for,
but flattered myself that a robin could interpret them. At least it
was orthodox robin language, and so I never fail to send a robin’s
“Good Morning” through the rooms and instantly comes a responsive
cry that ends in a rather amateurish whistle,—for Pitty Babe is learn-
ing the trick. But he is not deceived. He knows I am only a near-
robin and that the call does not come from the high elms. Never-
theless, later, I receive a surprisingly sweet reward.

Concealed in the woodbines I whistle softly, coaxingly. There is
a flash of color and a pretty Miss Merula drops from the blue and
alights on the telephone wires. She is deceived. She thinks that
Pitty Babe is calling her from his cage among the vines. She trills
softly. Pitty Babe chirps sociably. I whistle alluringly. She drifts

20 BULLETIN 8

from the wire to the trellis. Feminine curiosity, sympathy,—what
not?—draws her close to his prison bars. Each eyes the other in a
tenderly tentative way. I, the understudy, keep up the mono-dialogue
from the sheltering vines. The moment is tense with dramatic sig-
nificance. What next? Perhaps I am not saying the expected thing.
Perhaps there was a rustle among the leaves. Perhaps the instinct
of all wild things warns her. There is a sudden flirt of wings and she
is off. But at least, in actual bird language, I have wooed and won a
wildling. She will come again; though what I really said I wish I knew
as well as did Miss Merula. Later she came with a tender, pink spring
worm looped in her bill, and Eve-like, tempted Pitty Babe. Then, be-
lieve it, with unexpected heartlessness she coolly ate it herself before
his reproachful eyes while his mouth worked hungrily, sympathetically,
ludicrously. But mostly now she keeps to the lawn and garden-closes
trailing soberly in the wake of her handsome, portly spouse; grubbing
for worms—and “things’’—and apparently quite forgetful of her earlier
romance. Only apparently, for in his momentary absences she makes
swift, surreptitious flights to her captive charmer.

When it comes to a question of diet, Pitty Babe seems to be ac-
quiring a taste for civilized food. He drinks milk, eats berries, raisins,
fruit, oysters, broiled steak, warm rolls and ice cream, always refus-
ing sweets.

If we insist on his taking something he dislikes, after his first
polite refusal he indignantly seizes it, throws it away as far as pos-
sible, then disciplines us with deliberate and vigorous pecks.

Discarding his cannabalistic tendencies he uses angle worms for
footballs, throwing and kicking them about so vigorously that it is
incumbent upon us to walk a straight and narrow path with due dis-
cretion, or find ourselves doing an involuntary Tarantella at this
“Diet of Worms.”

He would prefer to take his food directly from our lips—on the
principle of trying it on the dog—and he fails to understand why we
draw the line at ants and angleworms! But above all things he loves
to eat soured milk with Grandma, perhaps because it is supposed to
make people live forever; and a pretty picture they make together.

With head cocked on one side he waits till she gets busy with
the sugar, etcetera, and then sidles up and helps himself.

Sometimes he edges around to her side of the saucer. She raps
him with the spoon. “Keep your own side of the dish!” says Grandma.

VERMONT BirD CLUB 21

“Haven’t you any manners? Youngsters now-a-days seem to have no
respect for their elders, at all!”

He takes the hint with the rap and thereafter makes little darts
between ‘spoons,’ so to speak.

His extreme interest in human affairs nearly proved his undoing,
for he one day slyly sipped a few drops of muriatic acid. An expres-
sion of having been struck by lightning passed over his features. We
gave him much milk and then alcohol and water—after frantically
calling up a drug store—and presently he began doing a cake walk in
his cage. He lifted his feet very high and carefully as if the floor
were coming up to meet him. He side-stepped. He eyed us vacantly
and foolishly. Finally he braced himself against the side of his cage,
sat down on his (then) stub of a tail, and with outstretched legs and
drooping head went suddenly to sleep. Notwithstanding his Puritan
upbringing he was hopelessly, emphatically—on a spree! For two
hours he slept; then he yawned, and with a “morning-after” look and
manner climbed unsteadily to his perch and put his head under his
wing. It was manifestly a case of intoxication—first offence.

Undoubtedly his greatest accomplishment is a game of his own
invention. When his bath is set out he tears up bits of newspaper
and throws them into the water, watching his miniature boats sail
about till water-logged, when he pulls them out and throws in fresh bits.

At this moment as I write he alights softly upon my desk to censor
this article, of which he apparently disapproves. For a moment he
holds an abstracted, statuesque pose; then, with malice aforethought,
he snatches the papers and scatters them far and wide. Pens and
pencils fly fast and faster, and his obvious attempts to distract my
attention will account for the evident hiatus in my narrative at this
point.

Pitty Babe’s future is problematical. Will it be the chloroform
and a final sleep or, if freed under his native vine and fig-tree, would
he, we had asked, grow self-reliant and migrate with his kind, leaving
us only a delightful memory of a vital, vivid, throbbing personality?

I had never, in the two years and a half, opened an outer door
without first locating him at a safe distance, but one day as an arrow
from a bow a shadow darted past me, poised on the vines, and sailed
away into the high elm from whence a burst of robin melody fell upon
my astonished ears. Followed several anxious hours of callings, and
coaxings, trailing Pitty Babe from tree to tree. Twilight and a light

22 BULLETIN 8

rain—and frightened by street noises and glare of electric lights, he
disappeared. The next day the papers advertised his loss.

News boys and letter carriers had an eye cocked toward the heav-
ens. Old ladies along the street craned their necks skyward. School
children were enlisted. The rain fell steadily and I, wet and woe-
begone, haunted the wooded outskirts and all likely and unlikely places
where I imagined P. B. might be hiding cold, wet and hungry search-
ing vainly for ice cream and raisins in some elm or maple tree. No
tidings came and another wet, windy night and day followed. If I
found him at all I should find only his pitiful little body I thought;
and then over the telephone came the message that a robin—a tame
robin—a very, very tame robin had with great discrimination selected
a home in the best residential part of the city and appeared confi-
dently at the window expecting the food that was immediately handed
out. He had kept to the porch and at night without using any dis-
crimination at all he followed his instincts and perched in a tree in
a heavy wind and rain. I stood not upon the order of my going and
presently a very wet and bedraggled missus confronted a very wet and
bedraggled robin, too miserable to cheep and with dull and half closed
eyes. I placed a raisin between my lips. ‘O, Pitty Babe, want some?”
I said. He snatched it greedily.

I snatched him greedily and popped him into a basket. He was
all day getting warm and dry and—would you believe it, he still cast
longing glances toward the high elm, and exchanged many confidences
with the sparrows outside, and early the next morning he ungratefully
came to my door and said things loudly and protestingly; yes, he was
actually profane. His saviour was his jailer and the call of the wild
was very strong.

But he is now again domesticated, cheeping at the door to be let
in; hovering restlessly about me at sleepy time and when I say “Want
to go to bed, Pitty Babe?” following like a kitten to his own particular
section of the studio from whence will come his matin song of another
day.

So I repeat, Pitty Babe’s future is problematical.

VERMONT BrirRD CLUB 23

[ABSTRACT ]

NOTES ON THE NESTING HABITS OF DUCK HAWKS
IN RUTLAND COUNTY

DUANE E. Kent, Rutland

The duck hawk can be called almost common in and near Rutland
county, for since 1895 the writer has known of eight cliff nesting sites
of this interesting bird of prey, and has received information of still
more of which he has not personal knowledge. The birds, with the
possible exception of one or two pair, return to these localities every
year. They are always very much attached to favorite spots and it
takes repeated disturbance to drive them away.

The first nest that I ever saw was at White Rocks in Wallingford
in 1895. My brother, Wyatt A. Kent, and I visited this nest a number
of seasons. In 1912 Jay G. Underwood and George L. Kirk reported
seeing two duck hawks in April at Bird mountain in the town of Cas-
tleton. Later we visited this place and found the birds nesting in a
very inaccessible cliff on the south side of the mountain. In the late
summer of the same year G. H. Ross reported seeing a pair on a small
cliff about three miles north of Bird mountain in the town of Ira. On
June 15, 1913, Mr. Kirk and I visited this locality and found that the
hawks had downy young. We heard the parent birds long before we
were near the nest. As we approached the foot of the cliff they be-
came greatly disturbed and flew over close to our heads. The exact
location of the nest was easily determined from the foot of the cliff
by “chalk” marks and the aerie proved to be accessible without the
aid of ropes. This is the only nest of which I have ever known which
could be reached in this manner. Mr. Kirk climbed down from the
top of the cliff and found two young about three-quarters grown.

There is a cliff in West Haven, a mile back from Lake Champlain
and on or near the game preserve of William Koch, where Mr. Ross
and Mr. Kirk have twice seen duck hawks flying about, and the birds
no doubt nest there. D. Lewis Dutton reports seeing these hawks at
Mount Horrid in Rochester during the nesting season in 1912 and he
has heard reports of their being there other years, so that the nesting
site is probably a regular one. Joseph A. Wellwood states that duck
hawks nest on Mount Equinox in Manchester, and they are said to
have occupied a cliff on Mount Haystack in Pawlet many years.

24 BULLETIN 8

In the fall of 1912 I saw three duck hawks flying about a cliff near
Benson, and as I have occasion to drive by the place once in two
weeks, it was an easy matter for me to locate the nesting place last
spring.

The writer sees no reason why these hawks should not be just as
common in other parts of the state, where there are favorable cliffs,
as in the vicinity of Rutland. It would be interesting if members of
the Vermont Bird Club living in varied localities would visit likely
cliffs in their vicinity some time during June or July and report their
finds to the club. It is not necessary that the localities should be se-
cluded, and one nest that I know about was only a half mile from a
saw mill and farm house.

NOTES ON THE NESTING HABITS OF THE SONG
SPARROW

G. WHITTIER FULLER, W. R. Junction

The song sparrow’s nest is most frequently found in clumps of
grass in meadows, pastures and along the roadsides. Let me illustrate
from my record books. Fifty-two nests were located as follows: 20
in clumps of grass or at the base of small trees and in clumps of small
bushes; 10 in depressions or dead furrows; 7 in bushes, one to four
feet from the ground; 9 in grass at the base of large stones; 1 in large
vine; 2 six feet from ground in dense, young trees; 2 near buildings;
1 in hollow log. Fifteen of the above nests were situated near small
bodies of water, or Swamp-land.

The birds begin. building by the first week in May, occasionally
much earlier. The nest is a substantial affair, the outer rim of which
is loosely formed of grass and rootlets. The inner cup is woven of
grass, and is lined with finer grasses, or rarely, hair.

Here is an interesting thing to note: Of the song sparrow nests
placed on the ground, the majority will be found to be made up partly
of roots; while the greater number of nests which I have found at .
slight elevations have been wholly composed of grass and weed-stalks.
Of the above mentioned nests, thirty-three were observed when the sets
were complete: 15 contained 4 eggs each, 12 contained 5 eggs each,
4 contained 6 eggs each, 2 contained 3 eggs each.

VERMONT Birp CLUB 25

The ground color of the eggs ranges from greenish-white to
medium grey. The ever present dark brown markings, in spots and
splashes, may almost conceal the lighter color. Many examples show
the brown sprinkled quite uniformly over the entire shell. The mark-
ings always tend to be darkest at the largest end of the egg. A nest I
once found contained four eggs, which were nearly free from mark-
ings, the latter showing but faintly on the clay-colored shell of the
greater end. Such sets are quite rare. The average measurements of
the eggs are about 0.80 in length by 0.57 in width.

The first egg is deposited from one to six days after the nest is
completed. The remaining eggs are laid at the rate of one a day, or
one every two days. The young appear after twelve or fourteen days
of incubation, usually all the eggs hatching the same day. The young
birds remain in the nest about the same length of time required for
incubation, and do not leave the nest, unless disturbed or frightened,
until they are ready for their first short flight. A second or third
brood may be reared during the summer months, the parents seldom
using the old nest for this purpose.

NOTES ON BIRDS

From paper by EpirH M. ESTEerRBROOK, describing a two months’ outing
in Newfoundland and Labrador in 1913

One day as we were taking a nine-mile bird walk over to the vil-
lage of Stephenville (Newfoundland), people who met us on the way
invariably remarked on the fine warm weather, although we were
walking with our coats on and were none too warm if we sat down
anywhere for a moment’s rest. We were rewarded with winter wrens
and Lincoln sparrows on that walk; and near the hotel crossbills and
myrtlé warblers were nesting, the former having a wonderful clear
ringing note,—peet-a-te-weet-a-te-weet, followed by a flourish of trills.

One pretty walk through the spruce woods led us to the vicinity
of a snipe’s nest, and we had an opportunity to hear the whinnying of
the bird as she circled about high over our heads. Horned larks were
there, and the graceful black-backed gulls were constantly seen wheel-
_ing high overhead, also the glaucous gull, with its shining white plu-
mage and its mocking “Ha, Ha” occasionally hurled at us from the
heights.

26 BULLETIN 8

On a camping trip up Harry’s Brook we saw sapsuckers, a water-
thrush, downy and hairy woodpeckers, a black and white creeper and
the Hudsonian chickadee. Arrived at St. Johns, we found one of the
interesting excursions to take was to Signal Hill, where we ascended
the Cabot Memorial Tower and had a magnificent view of the ocean,
Cape Spear—the easternmost point of North America, and the beau-
tiful harbor of St. Johns. Here we saw our first pipits and heard
their sweet, clear little notes, as they wheeled about overhead.

One day we took an auto stage to Portugal Cave, a primitive little
settlement, where we got a fisherman with his sailboat to put us over
to Bell Island. As we approached the steep, almost overhanging cliffs,
the lovely, velvety guillemots flew about in great numbers and soon
we saw that the rocks were swarming with the nesting birds. The
white spots in the centre of the wings gave them away; otherwise it
would have been almost impossible to detect them as they nestled in
some tiny crevice or on some narrow ledge. .

We stopped for a day in beautiful Bay of Islands (Labrador) and
while walking along the shore from Humbermouth to Curling we were
much entertained by two inquisitive alder flycatchers, one of which
finally ventured so far as to fly over to my companion and alight on
her shoulder, possibly attracted by the color of the red sweater which
she wore. The other started toward me, but just before he reached
me, wheeled about and retreated, probably frightened by a reflection
on my eye-glasses. In a trip through the grand canyons of Humber
River, we saw a kingfisher, a solitary loon, a merganser and a duck.

NOTES ON FLORIDA BIRDS

EVALINE DARLING MorcGan, Woodstock

Lake Helen, where we spent last winter, is located about 150 miles
south from Jacksonville and 18 miles westward from New Smyrna,
which is on the east coast of Florida. The country in this section is
diversified by low hills, sandy plains, cypress swamps, scrub palmetto
barrens, forests of the majestic Southern pine, and by numerous small
lakes and ponds.

In the village of Lake Helen, water oaks, sweet gum, magnolia
and camphor trees have been planted, the native pine trees, splendid
specimens upwards of a hundred feet in height, have been allowed to

VERMONT BirRD CLUB ' 27

form parks, while flourishing and extensive orange and grape fruit
orcherds lend on every hand their vivid beauty to the landscape. What
wonder that the birds find here ideal conditions.

Of our Northern birds, blue jays are easily the most numerous
and there exhibit their wonderful skill in mimicry to a degree not
thought of in the North. They mock the mocking birds till even they
are puzzled, give the identical call notes of the shrike and sparrow
hawk, besides possessing original notes and songs that produce varying
degrees of pleasure and pain to the listener. Next in point of num-
bers is the red-headed woodpecker—a bird so beautiful as to always
give a thrill of delight—and yet there so common as to evoke no sur-
prise. They spend much of their time working on the big pines where,
also, they excavate their nests, one of which I discovered on April
4th with four young birds in it. My attention was attracted to it by
the soft, quirring notes of one of the parent birds as he hung outside
the hole and looked adoringly within. The hole was not over seven
feet from the ground; the excavation for the nest was, probably, a foot
and a half in depth.

Fliekers, meadow larks, rusty and red-winged blackbirds, grackles,
brown thrashers, song and swamp sparrows, solitary vireos, phoebes,
robins, hawks, ducks, herons, sandpipers, snipes, kinglets and warblers
are commonly seen, each in the environment to which it is adapted.

Characteristically Southern are the mocking birds and cardinals,
and no matter how often seen and heard possess a charm ever new
and fascinating. The mocking birds begin to sing in February, and
by the last of April are in glorious song. On April 28th I found one
of their nests with four eggs in it. Loggerhead shrikes that had built
near the lake on a scraggy stump were feeding their young at this date.
The cardinal’s first whistle I heard on March 20th—on April 24th the
pair that lived in our garden were building their nest in a nearby
orange tree.

Of striking beauty among Southern birds is the red-bellied wood-_
pecker (a name with little significance to the casual observer, since
the red of the under parts is so faint as to almost escape notice). It is
the brilliant, flame-colored head and neck contrasted with the shining
black and white bars of the back that make it so noticeable. The
Southern hairy woodpecker has a call that sounds like a weird laugh
and so arouses the curiosity of the hearer that this is one of the first
birds to be hunted out and identified. In size it is intermediate be-

28 BULLETIN 8

tween our Northern hairy and the downy, the latter of which is
common. '

A delightful surprise comes when one chances upon a flock of the
dainty ground doves, pigeons less than seven inches in length, -but
rarely beautiful in dove-gray plumage, coral-red bills, and pink feet.
They are fearless and companionable, feeding quietly in gardens and
roosting at night in orange trees, from which their soft cooing notes
rise and fall in tender cadences. A larger representative of the same
family, the mourning dove of the North, is often seen in flocks feeding
in waste fields. Florida quail are plentiful and their power of con-
cealment is marvellous. If flushed, they fly, taking to low trees, and
sharp, indeed, are the eyes that can detect one after they have alighted.
Just so in the grass—at one moment you see ten—twenty—thirty—
and lo—they have every one vanished as if by magic.

The Florida wren, similar to the Carolina, though larger and
darker, makes the swamps resound with its loud cry of ‘‘whee-udel,
whee-udel-whee-udel.” Difficult is it to locate or to get even a passing
glimpse of this restless bird, whose note so persistently calls attention
to it. For a long, long time I sought for it in vain, and it was only
a few days before my return home that I was finally rewarded by a
splendid view of it and its funny, nervous antics. The long-billed
marsh wren lives in tall grasses near water holes, and, in similar
haunts, the South Maryland yellow throat, or “Palmetto bird’ finds a
secluded home. The water thrush is frequently seen on the borders
of cypress Swamps and even within the limits of the village, its dipping
motions and streaked yellow under parts making it easy of identifica-
tion.

At night, besides the humming sound of many insects, comes the
soft0 000000000 of the Southern screech owl, from two to ten
voices, answering and echoing, now far, now near, in softest harmony,
while perhaps from the very oleander at your door, a voice strikingly
bold and human in its enunciation, calls ‘““Chuck-Will’s-Widow, Chuck-
Will’s-Widow, Chuck-Will’s-Widow.” This Southern representative of
our whip-poor-will may sometimes be flushed from his day-time sleeping
place—an old stump or log—and then by a hoarse cluck, reveals him-
self a bigger and brighter brown bird than our own. Not to mention
the Florida crow would be a grave omission, since of its tribe it is
certainly unique. It looks as if it had never had a square meal in its
life and its voice in one complaining rasp testifies to that fact.

VERMONT BirD CLUB 29

It is evident that many birds that winter farther south or in
other sections of Florida stop in Lake Helen as a way station on their
journey northward. My note book gives the following data: Feb. 20,
white-bellied swallow; Feb. 22, purple martins; March 3, tufted tit-
mice; March 5, sparrows in big flocks; March 11, many warblers, robins
flying high and calling loudly; March 30, great-crested flycatchers; April
13, yellow-billed cuckoo; April 23, flock of blue birds (the only ones
I saw in Florida); April 24, hundreds of warblers, many in song;
April 25, summer tanagers.

If it is true that the song of the South Parula warbler ushers in
the Florida spring, then it came last year March 11th, a day long to
be remembered, since after a thunder-storm at night with a regular
deluge of rain, the morning dawned gloriously fair and with it the
arrival of many new birds, the Parula and its oft repeated warble
among the rest. Previous to this date I had only seen and heard
myrtle and pine warblers. Associated with them were kinglets.

On May ist we turned our footsteps homeward and on May 4th
spent a day at the famous old plantation “The Hermitage” in Savan-
nah. There in the giant live oaks, in the deserted gardens among
tangled vines and shrubs, in bordered walks that led to the Savannah
River, we saw and heard a great number of birds, many evidently
migrants, while others were at home in this bird paradise. Orchard
orioles were there in great numbers as well as brown thrashers, sum-
mer tanagers and cardinals in full song, warblers of many hues and
of tantalizing notes, including the yellow-breasted chat, which I saw and
heard for the first time, bobolinks, sparrows, and blackbirds, in gay
coats and merry outpourings, together made this a scene and a day as
bright as they themselves.

BLUE BIRDS
F. H. Harr, Rutland

April 6th, 1913, we saw a pair of bluebirds near the house (No.
11 Kendall Ave., Rutland, Vt.) that seemed to be looking for a place
to build a nest. The writer made and put up two boxes, one on the
southwest corner and one on the northwest corner of the house—up-
stairs. We did not see the birds again until April 12th, when they
_ were around the house nearly all day, and on the 13th they began a

30 BULLETIN 8

nest in the box on the southwest corner. We are not sure as to how
many young birds there were in this nest, but there were at least four,
and they left the nest May 27th, forty-four days from the time the old
birds began building the nest.

About a week later the same pair (we are reasonably sure that it
was the same pair) began a nest in the other box, on the northwest
corner of the house. There were five young birds in this nest, and
they left the nest July 17th. Allowing seven days from May 27th,
the time that the young birds left the first nest, would make June 38rd
the date of beginning the second nest, and the young birds left this
nest just forty-four days from June 3rd. Can any club member verify
this time record? I wonder if any member has ever noticed a house
wren around a bluebirds’ nest after the young birds had gone. Two or
three days after the young birds left there was one visited both of
these nests, seemed to be putting things in order, taking out stray
bits of straw and feathers. We thought perhaps they were going to
use the nest themselves, but after several visits they went away and
we saw no more of them.

HENSLOW’S SPARROW IN VERMONT
GreorGE L. KirKk, Rutland

Until 1912 little was known, as far as the writer can learn, about
the occurrence of Henslow’s sparrow in Vermont. My acquaintance
began on May 18 of that year when, while botanizing with D. Lewis
Dutton of Brandon, near his home, we heard a strange sparrow-like
song from different parts of two or three adjoining wet fields. The
weather was mild and at this time the bird migration was at its
height. With the aid of a field glass we determined that the strongly
accented two-syllabled song came from the Henslow sparrow and we
determined to secure a specimen. The birds, when approached, were
averse to flying, and because of their skulking habit Mr. Dutton suc-
ceeded in catching one alive with his hands. The specimen was pre-
sented to Dr. G. H. Perkins for the State collection at Montpelier. The
sparrows in this instance were apparently not paired, and Mr. Dutton
tells me that he did not hear the characteristic song again in the vicin-
ity, so that the birds probably did not nest where we found them.

VERMONT Brrpd CLUB 31

The species probably nests somewhere in the low land of Addison
or northern Rutland counties, though, for some time later G. H. Ross
of Rutland heard the Henslow sparrow’s note in a wet meadow near
Leicester Junction, about four miles north of the spot first mentioned.

Twice in 1913 the writer located one of these birds and in each
instance there was probably a pair nesting. As the sparrows choose
for their summer homes meadows in which there is a dense growth of
timothy, if possible, they are very difficult to observe, but their pres-
ence may be ascertained by listening for their song, which is continued
by the male incessantly until well into July, the hot weather of mid-
day seeming not to put a damper on his enthusiasm.

During the first week in July, 1913, it gave me pleasure to hear
the unmistakable see-wick, strongly accented on the last syllable, com-
ing from a dense growth of grass in a very wet meadow near the city
of Rutland. Later visits showed that the birds continued to sing until
the grass was cut. I never saw them at this place, so expert are they
at hiding, and I ceased to hear the song after the hay was removed.

My most unusual record for this bird was made on July 20, 1913,
when I heard the song coming from a tiny meadow along the road
leading east over the mountain from Wallingford, and at an altitude
of about 1,500 feet. It was surprising to hear the notes of this bird
of southern distribution mingled with those of the olive-backed thrush
and white-throated sparrow on the nesting grounds of these northern
breeding birds. The flora in the vicinity was largely that of the Cana-
dian zone.

While I have not made sufficient investigations to say so positively,
it is my belief that the Henslow sparrow has been overlooked, like
the grasshopper sparrow, and will be found to breed locally in many
places in Vermont.

BIRDS OF BENNINGTON AND VICINITY

Dr. L. H. Ross, Bennington

The region covered by this report is that part of the watershed of
the Walloomsac River which lies within the State of Vermont. It com-
prises all of the town of Bennington, together with parts of the towns
of Pownal, Stamford, Woodford, Glastenbury and Shaftsbury, which
are the six towns grouped in the southwestern corner of the State.

32 BULLETIN 8

Its extent is 13 miles from north to south and 10 miles from east to
west, and covers an area of about 120 square miles—one-fourth of which
is mountainous and the rest hilly valleys.

The lay of the land takes the form of an irregularly shaped oblong
bowl, with a piece broken out on one side where the Walloomsac River
makes its escape into New York, a few rods from the northwest corner
of the town of Bennington. The eastern rim of the bowl is made by
the Green Mountain range, which extends in a large irregular semi-
circle from Glastenbury Mt. on the north, an altitude of 3,764 feet, to
the Dome on the south, an altitude of 2,754 feet. On the north, the
rim dips down from the Glastenbury Mt. across the height of land
separating the watershed of the Walloomsac on the south from that
of the Battenkill on the north, only to rise again to an altitude of
2,020 feet on West Mt. From the Dome on the southeast corner, the
rim dips down towards the west to Pownal Center and curving around
towards the north, rises to an altitude of 2,345 feet on the top of Mt.
Anthony, which forms part of the western rim. Between Mt. Anthony
and West Mt. the rim is broken out so that all the streams in this
bowl finally drain through this point of lowest altitude which is 500
feet above sea-level.

The mountains are thickly covered with trees and scattered
through the lowlands are many groups of trees and bushes, so that
the whole region is very well wooded. There are no large stretches
of level meadow land, but the greater part of the valley is hilly, although
there are many Swampy places overgrown with grasses, weeds, and
bushes which furnish ideal feeding and breeding places for the birds.

Although there are no large rivers nor lakes within this region,
still it is very well supplied with water, for there are many springs
and small ponds, both natural and artificial, scattered throughout the
whole area. Many of these ponds are shallow with muddy, reedy bot-
toms and are favorite feeding places of the migrating water-birds.

Lake Paran, a small semi-artificial pond of about 30 acres in extent,
lying just out of the village of N. Bennington, is a resort for the Ameri-
can Scoter in its fall migrations.

Big Pond, lying in the town of Woodford at an elevation of 2,263
feet, is a favorite resting place for the migrating water birds, and upon
its waters have been shot the pied-billed grebe, loon, black duck, Ameri-
can scaup duck, and old squaw. The shores about this pond are fre-

VERMONT. Bird CLUB 33

quented, in the breeding season, by the golden-crowned kinglet and
various species of warblers.

Benton’s Pond, a shallow mill-pond within the village of Benning-
ton, having an island covered with reeds, is a veritable gold-mine for
the bird student. Not only do the swimming and the shore birds find
in its soft muddy bottom every viand suited to their taste, but the
swallows and the flyeatchers pick up insects in the air above its sur-
face and the sparrows, vireos and warblers flit in and out among the
trees and bushes lining its banks. How great a resort this pond is
for the birds can be learned from the fact that of the 176 species of
birds observed in the Bennington valley, all but 28 have been seen on
or about this little pond, which is less than five acres in area.

So far as I am aware, no other report of the birds of this region
has ever been given except the one by Mrs. Elizabeth B. Davenport of
Brattleboro, published in Bulletin No. 2 of the Vermont Bird Club.
Mrs. Davenport’s report covers the two counties, Windham and Ben-
nington, but since she is a resident of Windham County, no doubt most
of her observations were made in that county, which may account for
the few ways in which her report differs from mine. She includes
several water-birds, as the herring gull, wood-duck, canvas back, buf-
flehead, American golden-eye, coot and kildeer, none of which are
to be found in my list. It is not surprising that these birds are to be
found along the Connecticut River and not in Bennington, where there
are no large rivers. But who can tell why the crested flycatcher, pine
grosbeak, American crossbill, Tennessee and mourning warblers are so
frequently seen in Windham County and are so rare in Bennington;
while on the other hand the red-headed woodpecker, Henslow sparrow,
rough-winged swallow, white-eyed vireo, bay-breasted and palm war-
blers are found more abundantly in the western county? Mrs. Daven-
port says: “The purple martin is more abundant on the western side
of Bennington County, but since the destruction by the long cold rains
of 1903 most of the old haunts are still deserted or sparingly occupied.”
My observations, which began in 1903, support the latter part of her
statement, for I have never seen a purple martin in Bennington
County.

List of birds seen in Bennington for the years 1903-1913 inclusive.
Record kept by Dr. and Mrs. Lucretius H. Ross.

34

bo

12.

13.

14.

BULLETIN 8

Colymbus holboellii—Holboell grebe. Winter visitor. 1904, Feb.
18, seven taken alive; 1910, Jan. 1, one taken alive; 1912, Feb.
12, one taken alive; 1913, March 14, one taken alive.

Podilymbus podiceps—Pied-billed grebe. Winter visitor, not very
common.

Gavia imber—Loon. June, 1906, one adult shot on Big Pond,
Woodford; was mounted and is owned privately; 1908, Jan. 14,
a young adult captured alive; 1910, Nov. 25, a young adult shot.

Gavia lumme—Red-throated loon. 1905, Oct. 28, a young adult
taken alive in a door-yard on the main street of the village of
Bennington.

Uria lomvia—Brunnich murre. 1908, Dee. 16, one killed by boys
with stones in a stream just where it flows under the main
street of the village of Bennington.

Alle alle—Dovekie. One taken alive on the Vt. Soldiers’ Home
grounds, Bennington, May 31, 1910. It died the following day
and is now in the State Museum at Montpelier. This bird was
in breeding plumage and Prof. Wells W. Cooke of U. S. Bio-
logical Survey says that it is the only reported dovekie in
breeding plumage taken in the United States. ’

Sterna hirundo—Common tern. Has been seen only once and
then in Bennington, May 30, 1907.

Merganser americanus—American merganser. A frequent win-
ter visitor.

Anas boschas—Mallard. A winter visitor coming early and stay-
ing late.

Anas obscura—Black duck. Has been shot once during fall mi-
gration. .

Aythya marila—American scaup duck. Only two identified—one
seen in Bennington, Oct. 8, 1905, and one shot in Woodford,
Oct. 25, 1911:

Harelda hyemalis—Old squaw. Only one identified—an adult
male in winter plumage shot in Woodford, Nov. 13, 1911.
Oidemia americana—American scoter. Has been shot on Lake
Paran, North Bennington, several years during fall migrations.

Over 50 were shot on Oct. 14, 1913.

Oidemia perspicillata—Surf scoter. Two shot in Pownal, Sept.
23, 1905. Both were mounted and one was placed in the State
Museum and the other in the Museum at U. V. M.

15.
16.

11764

18.

19:

20.

21.

22.
23.

24.

25.

26.

Pa fe

28.

29.

30.

31.

VERMONT Bird CLUB 35

Branta canadensis—Canada goose. A frequent migrant.

Botaurus lentiginosus—American bittern. A summer resident,
although only one or two are seen each year.

Ardetta exilis—Least bittern. 1903, Aug. 7, one seen on this
date and several times afterwards; 1908, May 13, one specimen
seen.

Ardea herodias—Great blue heron. One or two pairs spend the
summer in this vicinity. They have been known to stay as
late as the last week in December.

Butorides virescens—Green heron. A common summer resident.

Nycticorax nycticorax naevius—Black-crowned night heron. 1909,
May 23, one seen in Bennington.

Rallus elegans—King rail. One spent four weeks during May and
June, 1910, on an island in a mill pond in the village of Ben-
nington. His call was heard day and night during his stay,
although it was possible only on two or three occasions to
drive him out of the rushes so as to be seen. This is the only
record of the king rail in Vermont.

Rallus virginianus—Virginia rail. 1909, Aug. 12, one seen.

Porzana carolina—Sora rail. One shot Nov. 11, 1904, and another
shot Sept. 16, 1911.

Philohela minor—American woodcock. A common summer resi-
dent.

Gallinago delicata—Wilson snipe. 1908, Oct. 16, four shot in
Shaftsbury.

Actrodramas miuntilla—Least sandpiper. 1907, May 22, one seen
—had only one leg; 1908, May 22, eight seen in one flock.
Calidris arenaria—Sanderling. An injured one captured alive
Sept. 25, 1911. It died in a few days and is now in the State

Museum.

Limosa haemastica—Hudsonian godwit. An injured one cap-
tured in Woodford, Sept. 5, 1911.

Totanus melanoleucus—Greater yellow-legs. 1909, May 3, one
seen in Bennington.

Totanus flavipes—Yellow-legs. 1909, Sept. 12, one seen in Ben-
nington.

Helodromas solitarius—Solitary sandpiper. Are seen almost
yearly both in spring and fall migrations.

36.

47.

48.

BULLETIN 8

Bartramia longicauda—Bartramian sandpiper. Summer resident.
There are three locations in Bennington where these birds
nest every year, usually one pair in each location.

Actitis macularia—Spotted sandpiper. A common summer resi-
dent found on all streams and ponds.

Aegialitis meloda—Piping plover. 1908, Oct. 2, one seen in Ben-
nington.

Colinus virginianus—Bob-white. Resident, but probably would
not survive many winters if they were not fed. None have
been seen for more than a year.

Bonasa umbellus—Ruffed grouse. Resident. Became very scarce
during 1907 and 1908, due probably to disease, but since then
have increased steadily in numbers. They are reported to be
very plentiful this year (1913).

Zenaidura macroura—Mourning dove. 1906, Sept. 1, three were
shot in Shaftsbury, having been mistaken for sharp-shinned
hawks. 1911, July 25, one seen in Bennington.

Circus hudsonius—Marsh hawk. The most common hawk, but
is found only as a Summer resident.

Accipiter velox—Sharp-shinned hawk. A common summer resi-
dent.

Accipiter cooperii—Cooper hawk. Resident, from one to five
being seen yearly.

Accipiter atricapillus—American goshawk. Resident on Bald Mt.
in the eastern part of Shaftsbury. Shot now and then.

Buteo borealis—Red-tailed hawk. Resident. Rather common.

Buteo lineatus—Red-shouldered hawk. Probably a resident, al-
though we have never seen it except in the summer.

Buteo platypterus—Broad-winged hawk. Summer resident. Only
one or two seen each year.

Aquila chrysaetos—Golden eagle. 1911, Oct. 26, one shot in
Shaftsbury, 1. 3 ft., ext. 6 ft. 10 in., wt. 1014 lbs. Mounted
and is in a private collection.

Falco columbarius—Pigeon hawk. Migrant; not common, is
occasionally shot and has been taken alive.

Falco sparverius—Sparrow hawk. Summer resident; rivals the
marsh hawk in being our most common hawk.

Pandion haliaetus carolinensis—Osprey. Migrant, three to five
seen yearly.

53.

54.

55.

56.

57.

58.

59.

60.

61.

62.

63.

64,

VERMONT Brirpd CLUB 37

Strix pratincola—American barn owl. 1909, Oct. 29, one shot
near N. Bennington.

Asio wilsonianus-—American long-eared owl. 1909, Oct. 29, one
shot in Bennington; 1911, Jan. 15, one shot in Shaftsbury.
Asio accipitrinus—Short-eared owl. 1910, March 10, one shot in

Bennington.

Syrnium varium—Barred owl. 1905, one shot in Bennington and
one was shot on the dates Jan. 3, 1910; Dec. 2, 1911, and Feb.
3, 1913—all in Bennington.

Nyctala acadica—Saw-whet owl. Two were shot on the Vt. Sol-
diers’ Home grounds in Bennington in the summer of 1906,
and one was shot on Bald Mt. March 10, 1910. A fourth one
was heard in the village of Bennington during Sept., 1913.

Megascops asio—Screech owl. A common resident. An unusual
thing was noted in regard to this bird on June 4, 1912, and
that was one singing at 10:30 A. M.

Bubo virginianus—Great horned owl. Common resident. One or
more are shot nearly every year.

Nyctea nyctea—Snowy owl. One shot in Bennington in 1903.
Mounted.

Surnia ulula caparoch—American hawk owl. One shot on Bald
Mt. in: 1903. Mounted.

Coccyzus americanus—Yellow-billed cuckoo. Summer resident.
Not seen every year—is very rare at the best.

Coccyzus erythrophthalmus—Black-billed cuckoo. Summer resi-
dent. Much more common than the preceding species, as sev-
eral are usually seen every year.

Ceryle aleyon—Belted kingfisher. Common summer resident. Oc-
casionally winters; remained during the winters of 1904-1905
and 1910-1911.

Dryobates villosus—Hairy woodpecker. Resident—not common.

Dryobates pubescens medianus—Downy woodpecker. Resident—
very common.

Sphyrapicus varius—Yellow-bellied sapsucker. Migrant although
a few breed in the mountains. Feb. 4, 1912, a young adult was
found frozen to death still clinging to the side of a tree.

Ceophloeus pileatus—Pileated woodpecker. Resident—rarely seen
and then only in the mountains. A male shot in Woodford

38

65.

66.

67.

82.

BULLETIN 8

in 1907; one found dead Feb. 8, 1909, and one seen April 3,
1910, are the records of all birds seen in 10 years.

Melanerpes erythrocephalus—Redheaded woodpecker. Rare sum-
mer resident. There are three or four places where they nest
each year. One pair remained during the winter of 1911-1912.

Colaptes auratus luteus—Northern flicker. Very common sum-
mer resident.

Autrostomus vociferus—Whip-poor-will. Fairly common summer
resident, although they are to be found in only a certain lim-
ited section.

Chordeiles virginianus—Night hawk. Summer resident.

Chaetura pelagica—Chimney swift. Summer resident. Very nu-
merous.

Trochilus colubris—Ruby-throated humming bird. Summer resi-
dent. Common.

Tyrannus tyrannus—King bird. Summer resident. Common.

Myiarchus crinitus—Crested flycatcher. Summer resident—never
over three seen in any one year, although the bird is seen
every year.

Sayornis phoebe—Phoebe. Common summer resident.

Nuttallornis borealis—Olive-sided flycatcher. Summer resident—
rare.

Cotopus virens—Wood pewee. Summer resident—common.

Empidonax flaviventris—Yellow-billed flycatcher. Migrant prob-
ably as the bird is seen only in the spring and fall.

Empidonax virescens—Acadian flycatcher. Nested in July 1904.
This was the only time it has been observed.

Empidonax traillii alnorum—Alder flycatcher. Summer resident
—not common.

Empidonax minimus—Least flycatcher. Common summer resi-
dent.

Otocoris alpestris—Horned lark. Probably a winter visitor, as
no observation has been made later than March.

Otocoris alpestris praticola—Prairie horned lark. Summer resi-
dent, breeding on the upland pastures and meadows. Not com-
mon.

Cyanocitta cristata—Blue jay. Common resident.

83.

84.
85.
86.
87.

88.

89.

90.
oe

92.

93.

94.

95.

96.

Sle

98.

VERMONT BiRD CLUB 39

Corvus corax principalis—Northern raven. One shot in Shafts:
bury, Nov. 7, 1909. Mounted and owned by Ira Adams, N. Ben-
nington.

Corvus americanus—American crow. Abundant resident.

Dolichonyx oryzivorus—Bobolink. Common summer resident.

Molothrus ater—Cowbird. Summer resident—not common.

Agelaius phoeniceus—Red-winged blackbird. A common summer
resident.

Sturnella magna—Meadow lark. A common summer resident;
occasionally winters—a fiock of 12 remained during the winter
of 1908-1909.

Ictarus spurius—Orchard oriole. Has been observed only once,
on May 30, 1905. 2

Icterus galbula—Baltimore oriole. Common summer resident.

Scolecophagus carolinus—Rusty blackbird. Migrant. From five
to ten are observed every year in spring migrations.

Quiscalus quiscula aeneus—Bronzed grackle. A common summer
resident.

Hesperiphona vespertina—Evening grosbeak. A flock of about
40 spent the month of April, 1909, in and about the village of
Bennington. Were first seen April 1, last seen April 18. In
1911 a flock of five were seen on March 27 and for four or five
days afterwards. In 1913 a flock of 25 to 30 were first seen
Jan. Ist, and were seen many times by many observers on dif-
ferent dates until April 20th.

Pinocola enucleator leucura—Pine grosbeak. Winter visitor. A
flock of five were first seen Dec. 7, 1903, last seen March 8, 1904.
In 1906-1907 a flock of about 20 remained from Dec. 5, 1906, to
Feb. 8, 1907. In 1910 and 1911 a flock of about 30 were seen
Dec. 2, 1910, and a flock of 11 on Jan. 2, 1911; 1913, Dec. 16,
three were seen.

Carpodacus purpureus—Purple finch. A common summer resi-
dent. A small flock remained during the winter of 1911-1912.

Loxia curvirostra minor—American crossbill. Only one bird seen
and that one on June 19, 1903.

Loxia leucoptera—White-winged crossbill. The only observation
was made on Feb. 11, 1909, when five were seen.

Acanthis linaria—Redpoll. Winter visitor. Rather irregular in
its visitations—some winters none are seen while in other

40

99.
100.
101.
102.

103.

104.

105.

106.

107.

108.
109.
110.

111.

112.
113.
114.
115.
116.
ay

118.
119.

BULLETIN 8

years flocks numbering in the thousands are frequently ob-
served.

Astragalinus tristis—American goldfinch. Common resident.

Spinus pinus—Pine siskin. Winter visitor.

Passerina nivalis—Snowflake. Winter visitor.

Pooecetes gramineus—Vesper sparrow. Common summer resi-
dent. Has been seen as late as Dee. 25th.

Passerculus sandwichensis savanna—Savanna sparrow. Summer
resident.

Coturniculus savannarum passerinus—Grasshopper sparrow.
Summer resident—not common.

Coturniculus henslowii—Henslow sparrow. One pair has nested
each summer in a certain locality—a Swamp in the southeast-
ern part of the town of Bennington—for the four years, 1909,
1991, 1912, 1913:

Zonotrichia leucophrys—White-crowned sparrow. Migrant—not
very common; occasionally sings during spring migrations.
Zonotrichia albicollis—White-throated sparrow. Summer resi-
dent. Breeds almost wholly in the mountains above 1,000 feet

altitude.

Spizella monticola—Tree sparrow. Winter visitor.

Spizella socialis—Chipping sparrow. Summer resident.

Spizella pusilla—Field sparrow. Summer resident. This bird
has been heard singing at midnight.

Junco hyemalis—Slate-colored junco. Summer resident—occa-
sonally winters. Breeds in the mountains, usually above 1,000
feet altitude.

Melospiza cinerea melodia—Song sparrow. Summer resident.

Melospiza georgiana—Swamp sparrow. Summer resident.

Passerella ilidaca—Fox sparrow. Migrant.

Passer domesticus—English sparrow. Resident.

Pipilo erythrophthalmus—Towhee. Summer resident.

Zamelodia ludoivciana—Rose-breasted grosbeak. Summer resi-
dent—seems to be more abundant during the past five or six
years.

Cyanospiza cyanea—Indigo bunting. Summer resident.

Piranga erythromelas—Scarlet tanager. Summer resident—not
common.

120.

121.

122.
123.

124.

125.

126.

128.

139.

VERMONT Bird CLUB 41

Petrochelidon lunifrons—Cliff swallow. Common summer resi-
dent. |

Hirundo erythrogaster—Barn swallow. Common summer resi-
dent.

Iridoprocne bicolor—Tree swallow. Summer resident.

Riparia riparia—Bank swallow. Summer resident. Not very
common, as there are very few places suitable for nesting.
Stelgidopteryx serripennis—Rough-winged swallow. Summer

resident—one to three pairs seen yearly.

Ampelis garrulus—Bohemian waxwing. Winter visitor, or it
might be better to call it a spring visitor, because it is never
seen except in the spring. 1904, from March 38 to April 6;
1905, on March 13; 1908, from March 24 to April 7; 1910, April
16, flock of 30; 1911, March 27, flock of 12.

Ampelis cedrorum—Cedar waxwing. Summer resident.

Lanius borealis—Northern shrike. Winter visitor—not common.

Lanius ludovicianus—Loggerhead shrike. Has been observed
only three times. 1905, Aug. 20, one seen; 1911, April 2 and 3,
same one seen both days; 1913, April 9, one seen.

Vireo olivaceus—Red-eyed vireo. Common summer resident.

Vireo gilvus—Warbling vireo. Common summer resident.

Vireo flavifrons—Yellow-throated vireo. Summer resident.

Vireo solitarius—Blue-headed vireo. Summer resident.

Vireo noveboracensis—White-eyed vireo. Summer resident, least
common of the vireos.

Mniotilta varia—Black and white warbler. Summer resident, but
nests only in the mountains above 1,500 feet altitude.

Helminthophila rubricapilla—Nashville warbler. Summer resi-
dent.

Helminthopila pegrina—Tennessee warbler. Has been seen only
once, on May 11, 1912.

Compsothlypis americana—Parula warbler. Summ¢> resident,
nesting above 2,000 feet.

Dendroica tigrina—Cape May warbler. Has been observed in
two years only. In 1912 migration began May 6 and lasted
until May 22; 30 to 40 seen and one found dead. In 1913 the
migration began May 138 and lasted only a few days.

Dendroica aestiva—Yellow warbler. Summer resident—very com-
mon.

42

140.

141.

142.

143.

144.

145.

BULLETIN 8

Dendroica caerulescens—Black-throated blue warbler. Summer
resident, but has never been found nesting below 1,000 feet.

Dendroica coronata—Myrtle warbler. Summer resident.

Dendroica maculosa—Magnolia warbler. Summer resident.

Dendroica pensylvanica—Chestnut-sided warbler. Summer resi-
dent.

Dendroica castanea—Bay-breasted warbler. Migrant—passing
through during the third week of May.

Dendroica striata—Black-poll warbler. Summer resident, but
does not breed below 2,000 feet.

Dendroica blackburniae—Blackburnian warbler. Summer resi-
dent, but like the preceding nest only in the mountains at high
altitudes.

Dendroica virens—Black-throated warbler. Summer resident.

Dendroica vigorsii—Pine warbler. Summer resident—rare; found
only in certain places except during migration.

Dendroica palmarum—Palm warbler. Migrant—not common. I
have never differentiated this from the yellow palm.

Seiurus aurocapillus—Oven-bird. Summer resident.

Seiurus novebovacensis—Water-thrush. Summer resident—not
common.

Geothlypis philadelphia—Mourning warbler. Summer resident—
rare. It has been found nesting twice.

Geothlypis trichas brachidactyla—Northern yellow-throat. Sum-
mer resident—common.

Icteria virens—Yellow-breasted chat. In 1904 one was seen May
11 and 12; in 1912 a pair nested and reared young. This is
the only instance reported of a chat’s nesting in Vermont.

Wilsonia pusilla—Wilson warbler. Migrant.

Wilsonia canadensis—Canadian warbler. Summer resident, but
nests only in the mountains.

Setophaga ruticilla—American redstart. Summer resident.

Mimus polyglottus—Mocking-bird. 1911, one individual seen by
two observers on different days (May 7th and 8th).

Galeoscoptes carolinensis—Catbird. Summer resident.

Toxostoma rufum—Brown thrasher. Summer resident—common.

Troglodytes aedon—House wren. One pair has nested in a bird
house in South Shaftsbury for several summers; another pair
nested in an old oriole’s nest in Bennington village, 1912;

VERMONT Birp CLUB 43

other than these two instances only three or four stray indi-
viduals have been seen.

162. Olbiorchilus hiemalis—Winter wren. Summer resident.

163. Certhia familiaris americana—Brown creeper. Winter visitor.

164. Sitta carolinensis—White-breasted nuthatch. Resident.

165. Sitta canadensis—Red-breasted nuthatch. Winter visitor.

166. Parus atricapillus—Chickadee. Resident.

167. Parus hudsonicus—Hudsonian chickadee. 1912, Dec. 26, one seen
—only record.

168. Regulus satrapa—Golden-crowned kinglet. Summer resident—
winters quite a number of years, possibly some winter every
year.

169. Regulus calendula—Ruby-crowned kinglet. Migrant.

170. Hylocichla mustelina—Wood thrush. Summer resident.

171. Hylocichla fuscescens—Wilson thrush. Summer resident.

172. Hylocichla ustulata swainsonii—Olive-backed thrush. Summer
resident, but nests only at high altitudes. Rare.

173. Hylocichla guttata pallasii—Hermit thrush. Summer resident—
common.

174. Merula migratoria—Robin. Summer resident. Has been known
to winter several times.

175. Sialia sialis—Bluebird. Summer resident.

176. Sturnus vulgaris—Starling. A flock of about 30 arrived in Ben-
nington Dec. 12, 1913.

POINTERS

It is the desire of the Bird Club to issue its future Bulletins in
March. In order to do this papers, reports and notes should be sent
to the editor promptly.

Each one reading this issue is requested to do something definite
for the 1915 Bulletin.

By buying an extra copy or two of the Bulletin (price 10c. each)
and presenting to some library, school or bird lover, the work of the
Club may be advertised.

The “section plan’ may be made a live issue if every member of
a group shows enthusiasm. For “section plan” and “groups” see 1913
Bulletin.

44 BULLETIN 8

Observations on the song sparrow preparatory to the issuing of a
monograph is the definite work assigned to the Club as a whole for the
coming year. See plan.

Persons receiving this Bulletin who are not already members of
the Bird Club may consider it an invitation to join. Names sent to
’ the secretary are voted upon at the Club’s two regular meetings. The
regular dues of the Club are 50 cents yearly. By paying $10, one may
become a life member.

The Summer meeting is to be held in Westhaven (near Rutland)
the second week in July.

The design of the pin adopted by the Bird and Botanical Clubs is
a three-leaved clover in green enamel with V. B. C. in silver. The price
is 65 cents and it may be obtained of Mrs. W. B. Jolly, Berkshire, Vt.,
or of Mrs. Nellie F. Flynn, 251 So. Willard St., Burlington, either in
pins or buttons.

Migration blanks may be obtained of the Secretary. The in-
creased size of the Bulletin makes it imperative that dues be paid
promptly. Send to the Treasurer today.

It is proposed to bring before the next Legislature the matter of
setting aside the State forests as bird and plant reservations. It is
hoped that this proposal will call forth united effort on the part of
the Bird Club toward its realization.

Many are asking that the 1915 Bulletins of the Botanical and Bird
Clubs shall contain pictures of their presidents—Dr. Ezra Brainerd
and Dr. G. H. Perkins.

Co-operation is asked on the part of every member of the Vermont
State Bird Club in carrying out its work for the coming year.

NOTES

The editor invites every member of the Club to send, at least, one
contribution to the department of “Notes” for the 1915 Bulletin. By
so doing you will help to make this one of its most interesting and
valuable features. Please send contributions before the mid-winter
meeting.

O. P. Fullam, Westminster, voices an enthusiastic attitude towards
the Club in saying, “If you can see any place where I can help the
Bird Club, just put me in.”

VERMONT Birp CLUB , | AB

Dr. L. H. Ross, Bennington, visited England in May and June and
made observations on birds there. He reports the arrival for the first
time in Bennington of a flock of starlings, Dec. 12, 1913.

Miss Anna M. Granger, E. Poultney, saw and heard a winter wren
Dec. 25th.

Miss Mabel A. Strong reports a flock of pine grosbeaks in Wood-
stock the last week in October.

Mrs. Eliza F. Miller, Bethel, reports the following birds that she
had not before seen in that section: Evening grosbeak, golden eye,
herring gull, American scaup duck, Tennessee warbler (in song),
American pipit, screech owl. She contributed an interesting paper on
the nesting of the Phil. vireo in Bethel to the joint meeting of the
Hartland Nature Club and White River Junction Group, held at Wood-
stock in September.

Mrs. W. H. Moore, Woodstock, reports seeing an immature white-
eyed vireo Sept. 25th in company with young magnolia warblers. The
markings about the eye were pale buff instead of bright yellow as in
the mature bird.

Mrs. Nelly Hart Woodworth, Tarpon Springs, Fla., reports seeing
about 80 specimens, usually, in that region. One Swainson’s warbler,
many snowy heron, yellow-throated warblers (quite different from the
Florida or the Northern yellow-throats), tufted titmice in abundance,
thousands of palm warblers with an occasional yellow palm, brown
thrashers and cardinals, are the birds mentioned by her.

A lecture on “The Long Trail” by Dr. Louis J. Paris, given at the
recent winter meeting was of much interest to members of both Clubs.
This trail reaches from Killington to Johnson, an actual distance of 150
miles. The completed trail will extend from Canada to the Massa-
chusetts line, while loops and side trails will form a network of roads
leading to points of interest in the Green Mountains. Thus new op-
portunities for studying rare plants and birds of the State will be
afforded.

Miss Alice W. Wilcox of Fairbanks Museum, St. Johnsbury, gave a
delightful talk on Habitat Bird Groups, and illustrated it by lantern
slides of bird groups photographed in the Natural History Museum,
New York.

46 BULLETIN 8

L. Henry Potter, Clarendon, reports 107 species for his section and
about 23,533 individuals, with special observations as follows: “Species
common during migration but scarce as summer residents were—white-
throated sparrow, night hawk, Canada warbler, Parula warbler, myrtle
and Nashville warblers, belted kingfisher. Permanent residents less
common in winter were—Red-tailed hawk, goldfinch, crow, white-
breasted nuthatch, red-breasted nuthatch, golden crowned kinglet, brown
creeper, and red crossbill. An unusual occurrence was a saw-whet owl
seen and heard as late as May 20th in Tinmouth, probably breeding.
A male red-headed woodpecker was seen on Sept. 7th—this is my first
record of the species in Clarendon. A pair of short-billed marsh wrens
built their nest in a small marsh near our house in West Clarendon.
The nest was found containing seven white eggs. My first Clarendon
record.”

Mrs. Nora A. Scofield, village of Hyde Park, says: ‘There is a
wooded hill just back of my house and an orchard at its foot. This is
a favorite haunt for the birds and during the summer of 1913 I saw
sixty different species of birds in the orchard and on the hill.” Her
record gives 86 species, among them, the evening grosbeak and titlark.

A very interesting and valuable list is furnished by Dr. and Mrs.
L. H. Ross, Charles Hitchcock, Mrs. W. H. Bradford, Mrs. T. M. Ayres,
Bennington, of 116 species, also a list of 117 species for a series of 7
years by Mr. and Mrs. Geo. M. Miller, Bethel.

Miss Mary E. Jennison, St. Albans, in a list of 52 species records
the yellow palm warbler for the first time there.

PRACTICAL BIRD PROTECTION IN HSSEX JUNCTION.—The butlding of a
large dam in Essex Junction last spring brought there several hundred
workmen, the greater share of whom were ready to prey upon all bird
life. Certain people who were interested to save the birds from their
depredations appealed to the State Fish and Game Commissioner, Mr.
Titcomb, who promptly aided by having posters of cloth printed in
English and Italian with the Vermont laws respecting the protection of
birds. These posters were placed in conspicuous places and were most
carefully studied by the laborers, as was frequently observed by those
having the matter in charge. The county game warden and town war-
den, dressed in policeman’s uniform, ably assisted by posting laws in
regard to the restrictions to aliens in carrying firearms and in every
way possible saw that the law was obeyed. The fact that the trees on
both sides of the river where the dam was built were cut, greatly

VERMONT Bird CLUB 47

diminished the number of birds in that locality, and so helped to re-
move temptation from their would-be slayers.

Mr. A. EB. Tuttle, Bellows Falls, says: “There is one matter
that I have thought about long and seriously, a matter which, it seems
to me, state and national organizations ought to bring to the attention
of the legislative bodies. I believe it to be a fact that more birds
are killed every year by cats than by any other one agency. And,
inasmuch as there are devices for combating the mice nuisance more
effective than cats, and no agencies have yet been devised that are
efficient in combating the pest nuisances, it would seem reasonable to
me that cats should either be exterminated, licensed, or muzzled, by
legislative enactment. If they could be muzzled during the months
of June, July and August, I believe that we should very soon see a
marked difference in the number of our song birds, and then we should
surely see a marked difference in the insect pests that now so seriously
menace all forms of vegetation.”

The Hudsonian chickadee, or to be scientifically correct, the Aca-
dian chickadee (Penthestes acadicus) was unusually common in the
vicinity of Rutland in the late fall of 19138. George L. Kirk writes
that he had previously known this bird only from Vermont mountains
at an altitude of over 3,500 feet, close to the Hudsonian zone, but there
are several records for lower altitudes the past season. A half dozen
of the northern species of titmouse were seen with the common chicka-
dees near Rutland at an altitude of 1,000 feet on September 27. In
October, Duane E. Kent of Rutland saw the species in East Wallingford
near Spectacle Pond. Harly in November Mr. Kirk saw them in three
places while ascending Mt. Pico, and later in the month he found a
dead specimen hanging on a bush in the outskirts of the city of Rut-
land, where it had been placed by a shrike. This brings the bird down
to 600 feet altitude.

Mrs. Cora VY. Morrill, Bakersfield, reports that a flock of between
30 and 40 evening grosbeaks visited Bakersfield last year, coming Feb.
18 and remaining until March 9th. “They came to the maple trees on
the school lawn every morning, but I never saw them in the village
during the afternoon. They were not at all shy and were willing we
should admire their beautiful winter dress. So far as we could learn
they ate only the maple buds, but the trees apparently were not in-
jured by them. On March 8th the weather moderated and the birds

48 BULLETIN 8

seemed to appreciate it. They must have been holding a farewell
reception for the departing guests, I think, for that morning there gath-
ered in the trees in our door yard, pine and evening grosbeaks, red
polls, chickadees, goldfinches, nuthatches, blue jays and English spar-
rows. Some of the grosbeaks came under the windows, but did not
approach the bird table. None of the birds showed any fear of the
family. who were watching them from the window. The grosbeaks
were not seen again after the following day. They awakened a good
deal of interest in people who ordinarily do not take much notice of the
birds.”

LISTS KEPT BY MR. AND MRS. GEORGE M. MILLER OF BETHEL
The hunting ground has been a part of Bethel village, and some of
the country within a radius of two miles.

RESIDENTS

I Ruifed! grouse 21.52 2s wie Sec Rabo ole clatSidenaht lees eee Tae ei ieee
2 Barred OW] osc cccc ips aie esol a) sess cut 5 clo enebeheholet sal aha at ree ee
S.Sawe whet wile! fyi sftsieiSrec sueie ve.> anaporn auejeyetotorsiotore caciers ono e eke
A Sereceh OW! wd sorsitem sy: diegava «, e'sissays 0,05. eieys, maou 2 aa Ree cel eae
5 lairys woodpecker’ «sj. fish = bis «blene)s wis 6:2 oe she ocyee eevee ae ee eee
6, DOWNY § WOOAPECKER s .void aise, box de suede is anche sy <cate enthaisys oe oe ee
WG ESMUCE PAY eucts: ders cy aps suseh a sve ak H oviets egcsdyviie. 5 Sue yehe dMehets Srohent bac eae
S“White-breasted. muthateh..:¢ oft 5c wrceqeyeve s «ie « afoie bene Oe
9) Red-breasted:. mutate dvs. orev jews adres ssiole + Nessie opcuseste nee
10. Black-capped! “chickadee 4.212... g0:. asiastaer «cs 4s 6 soe One

1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913
nna Wfofo\otichckgmce nto Dea ee iaetsy) Ws otels y levattt > Stacie oe ome ee
2 eelernine fe llligecc.pe cre ace CREM EERIE SHA ay SRT
3) Bonaparte full 4225 bie ac Ron clr ds3
i4 American: mergzanseri\.\.d ide. w4e iOs1 ince on te eee ee
15 American scaup duck..... see 7S ocwe 3 wae gt en eer
Gs Golden-eyeus- saa cceeeecee Saisigi sie bis ye 18. washes 2 Joe oe See REE
ily? (GenoeNeley. Foe An” a oa oe PP nmr rnmeL: oN suum cee (012) asf) 3)
18 Great blue heron ........ bi8'inies pepe) ess syeue'e, vce oars dl ar Ret an See
Latte ereene Heron) s2 pe casey) slag leas Orkit O224e Re aG mmr
20 Black-crowned night heron .... 8-12 9-4 17-29 7-28 7-18 7-9

(Young)

21 Solitary sandpiper ....... Syersye; [pie exieye: deed Un arena = ee ice
22 Spotted sandpiper ....... o- 4° 4-29 2. 5-ll” 5-7 bana

Za Marsh slants nice omssree ajelsis. isMiieios, (Or | 6! ha acne ena Eore

24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60

VERMONT BirRD CLUB

1907

OSOREY teasoclas fo via beta oes 5-29
Yellow-billed cuckoo .....

Black-billed cuckoo ...... site
Belted kingfisher ........ 4- 3
Yellow-bellied sapsucker. .

Pileated woodpecker ..... ame
PICKET eee Mc hicr.crrealee s 4-26

Wihippoorwill ss. se 006s 6-20
INTEGRA WIRE © oS. Site ee eateeelens 5-31
Chimney ‘Swift <......... 5-13
Hummine bird 2.2.65... 5-23
RCV DIT Oe Fete se ecsrets ya'c alah 5-15
Crested flycatcher ....... Les
IPDOEDET es. cee k aes we erO-20
Wood pewee ............- 5-17
Alder flycatcher ......... as a
Heast. ‘flycatcher <....5.... 5-10
Horned lark c/o. sie es

(COTO seis hiss ese 15i 2, arc ocats. aare aratets
Bopohinke Chess sees 5-14
WOW DINE Pace ere aes ete ors Rate
Redwing blackbird ....... 4 5
Meadowlark .0.%).)55'5 0sis000 curs
Baltimore: oriole: ..3.... >. 5-14
Rusty blackbird <........ 4-9
Purple erackle .. oc. es 4- 6
Evening grosbeak ....... Sekate
Pine gerospeaké (54... \)/c6.00 1- 3
Bunple: fimeh: oo.6-5. 060%. 4-29

American crossbill .......
White-winged crossbill...

VIO UN laters crarsters ote eters. ccs 1- 2
American goldfinch....... 5-15
PAIR EESISKIN «ouch sweets «ets
SHO WAAC 4, folie vecheraleleie ccs
Vesper sparrow ......... 4-26

1908
4-27
7-12
6-11
4-10
4-24
6- 4
4-18
5-19
5-12
5-26
5-12
5-22
3-27
5-21

1909 1910

4-12 4-27
7- 8

(rBy | Bose
4-18 3-30
4-12 4-5
4-19 4-6
5-23 5-24
5-14 5-22
5- 8 5-16
5-19 5-12
5- 7 5-17
5-16 5-21
4-4 3-29
5-29 5-24

50

VERMONT Bird CLUB

1907 1908
Savanna SPABEOWs exis css ee Re
White-crowned sparrow... 5-14 5-12
White-throated sparrow... 5-12 4-19
TT TECESPDALGOW s)«.ceeeks a stepa is 8-25 3-27
Chipping sparrow ....... 4-29 4-25
MiecladMsparrows #h-u1sttocrste 5- 7 4-25
TUNCO! cio fers, 5. speneyey ays aaseenaee ens 3-24 3-27
SON) Sparrows «5. cls ecpepfecn- 3-21 3-26
IM SENEOMY, oooonaceoope 4-10 11-6
Rose-breasted grosbeak... 5-17 5-17
Ihatoltexoy Joybhaimbays ~Goco0050c G-mO=1b
Scarlet tamager sans. a 5 eet One
Clitfiees wallow Sime .c- cueyoe 5-23 5- 8
Barn swallow erccm acer oe 5- 5 5-12
Treesswallow, ease: ssteriea ce 6- 3 5-18
Banka SiwalilOwea errr (5h er 5 ar
Cedar waxwitt > j.ccur. os 4 4-23
Northern shrikew. 6% sci. ch acaers
Red-eyed vireo .......... 6- 7 5-19
Philadelphia vireo ....... nae aoe
Warblin sviteo) 2) es 5- 9 4-27
Yellow-throated vireo .... 5-29 4-26
Blue-headed vireo ....... : 5- 3
Black and white warbler... 5- 7 4-26
Nashville warbler ....... 8-19
Tennessee warbler ...... Sees
Parulaswarnblerke seeder 6- 8 5-21
Cape May warbler........ Bi eS
Yellow, warbler’ 2.7 a. oe 5-16 5-12
Black-throated blue warb. 5-17 6-30
Myrtle warbler fo. ey se 5-16 4-26
Magnolia warbler ........ See eto26
Chestnut-sided warbler... 6-3 5-15
Blackpoll warbler ....... 6- 7 5-22
Blackburnian warbler..... 6-6 9- 6
Black-throated green warb. 5-17 7-23
Palimiswarblere 6... sie. te Son Al
Ovenbirdi cio ae cect 5-138 5-12

1909
4-17
5-13
5-10
1-22
4-23
4-19
4- 1
1-27
11-3
5-21
5-16
5-23

VERMONT BirRD CLUB 51

1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913

99 Water thrush, Northern... .... 5-14 .... .... 5-24 5-21 8-12
100 Mourning warbler ....... sateen cee OMe LLOly o clsl aie | Aveo a sy nial Urecetets
101 Maryland yellow-throat.... 5-13 5-18 5-14 5-20 5-11 5-12 5- 8
LOZ Walsoniswanbler ......... - Sie Dae. eee A OTe. Uae. | O-20) soso
103 Canadian warbler ....... 6- 4 5-25 5-22 5-80 5-14 5-19 5-25
104 American redstart ....... 5-17 5-14 5-15 5-22 5-9 5-12 5-8
HOS eAnTErIGAN) Pipl. se. eee 6 - A ale NR See Ph eee pate om eC Senet) aL
MOGA@atbind: (oes. Sees 22% 5-17 5-112 5-10) 5-20 5-13" 5-12) b= 8
1HOfeBrown thrasher® .22.5.... NageeR Soa Shes a oyes eal ee) COS
HOSMWanterawren 5.22 a 6s Be Ste dot: KAR DAY | hired) Listomse, evavon OSIM
109 Brown creeper .......... gang ao) ey Utell) ~ aeales alee al
110 Golden crowned kinglet.. 4-2 3-30 4-9 .... 10-7 3-30 10-23
111 Ruby-crowned kinglet.... .... 426 4-23 ....10- 2 4-27 4-20
ie wWoodsthrush ..s.acss.. J 6- 3 5-14 5-13 5-27 6-19 5-12 5-24
Se WalSonsGhiriUs hi... ss enced. a 5- 2 5-14 5-11 5-13 5-7 5-9 5-8
114 Olive-backed thrush ..... et Msiee es dae) qatsteo erdsli8u522i" 9293
iiherermite thrush: . 2.3.5.0. 4-27 4-24 4-23 4-6 422 4-13 4-16
SGML ODL sary cievs- cies <eeisls averse 8-21 3-15 3-27 3-20 3-29 3-20 3-20
MMLC DING: SSsSes icles os Oars 3-17 3-13 3-17 3-12 3-13 3-6 3-16

AN ECOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE SONG SPARROW
Dr. H. F. PERKINS, University of Vermont

The Hartland Nature Club has undertaken to increase interest in
its work by engaging a number of its members in an intensive study
of the song sparrow in a definite restricted area. They have requested
me to give an outline suggesting how this work may be accomplished.
As is necessarily the case in such a preliminary outline, the most im-
portant feature is what is left out, rather than what is included. If
the outline can be suggestive to the members of the Club who are
making a study so that they will formulate their own program, the
purpose will be better served than if it were of such a character that
it could be followed in detail.

A. APPORTIONING THE PROBLEM

A task of the sort here described can be best accomplished by a
comparatively small number of persons, say ten. Each person should
be made responsible for a report at the end of the season upon one
single phase of the study. While he will be interested in the work

52 BULLETIN 8

that all are doing, he will pay particular attention to the one part
which belongs to him especially.

B. PRELIMINARY STUDY

As many articles and books as can be found treating of the song
sparrow should be procured and parcelled out to the members of the
group. The files of bird magazines should be gone through system-
atically in order to glean all such matter. Make a card index by
topics. Have reports read on this preliminary reading at meetings
prior to the beginning of the field work.

C. RECORDS

It will be desirable to keep uniform records and they had better
be planned in advance to secure uniformity and completeness. Loose
leaf note books should be provided by each member. At the close of
the work, the leaves may be rearranged without the covers in card
index form, guide cards being introduced for separate headings. One
point which cannot be too emphatically made is in regard to the danger
of not keeping full notes. Considerable practice is necessary and fre-
quent checking by the person in charge through the season is of much
importance.

D. POPULATION

The first appearance of the song sparrow, the first nest built, the
total population during the nesting season, the beginning of migration
in the fall, the last straggler—these should all be carefully recorded.
One or two persons will be especially assigned to this task. The other
members of the group will be as apt to make the observations, but the
careful records should be kept by the person specially designated.
With regard to the taking of the census during the height of the sea-
son, very careful observation will be necessary. The area may well
be sub-divided into portions which are gone over repeatedly by an
individual or two, and the work must be thoroughly done, but without
alarming the birds any more than is necessary.

E. NESTS

A chart or map of the area having been made during the prepara-
tions, the location of uneven ground, swamps, large trees, bushes, tall
grass, rocks, etc., should be indicated by symbols as in the government
topographic maps. The location of each nest is then indicated by
a conspicuous symbol, to which a number is appended. These nests

VERMONT BirD CLUB 53

are then assigned to as many members of the group as may be inter-
ested to follow their history, and careful records kept somewhat as
follows:
(a) Exact location described in full.
(b) Materials used.
(c) Date commenced and date finished.
(d) Eggs laid, date, number.
Add any notes on color and markings, if at all peculiar.
(e) Description of parent birds, which are designated by the num-
ber of their nests.
(f) Hatching of eggs.
(g) Date of leaving nest.
(h) Any additional notes on the domestic affairs of this particu-
lar establishment.

EF. Sones

If it is possible to go into bird music, it will be found very inter-
esting to make notations of the songs of the different birds. As soon
as the nests are under way and the birds distinguishable, the variations
in the songs of each bird will probably be found to be very slight,
whereas considerable differences will be noticed between the various
birds. Compare the songs of the birds in this area with those inhabit-
ing widely different areas, as at seashore, on mountains, ete. Record
songs on musical staff, using pitch-pipe or tuning fork to determine
pitch. Pitch will be found to vary much more than rhythm. Wide
variation in the timbre or quality will appear and notes should be
added to indicate this so far as possible.

G. FEEDING

In observing the habits of the birds on the nests, make a few all
day observations of favorably located nests from before sunrise to sun-
set, so as to note the number of visits of male and female and so far
as possible the character of the food brought to the nestlings.

The persons assigned to these separate tasks will probably, in some
cases at least, wish to change their assignments, but so far as possible,
it is important that the same person see the work through to the end.

54 BULLETIN 8

The location and size of the area are not specified because in
the first place I have no data, and in the second place, this outline will
be more likely to be useful to other clubs, if local details are omitted.
Obviously the selection of the locality is a matter of prime importance,
but so is the determination on the part of the members of the group
to do the work with the utmost thoroughness of which they are capable.

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