Mexico weekly ledger., 1897-04-22
BIRDS INDICATORS OF SPRING.
Signs of Its Return by the Feathered
Tribe, as Recorded by Local
Ornithologist.
o the Editor of the Ledger.

To the Editor of the Ledger.
MEXICO, Mo-, April 19.-Often, un-
less we have some definite record
we are apt to forget about the lateness
or earliness of even the last spring
and think that we never saw it so late
before. OF course, 80 far as the gar
dening and sowing goes, as much de-
pends upon the dampness or dryness OF
the weather as upon the temperature;
and fairness and cloudiness are large
factors in the growth Of things. Aside
from these there are some things
that indicate that spring has come, by
their associations, and such are often
independent of our planting and SOW
ing opportunities. 1t may not be un-
interesting to glance at record of the
last four springs the more
familiar birds andgrowing things about
home as indicating at least the win
ter's departure. / find from my note
book, for instance, that the frogs last
year sang first on 2-27; this year on
2-24. Other things as follows: (The
first figure IS the year; the second the
month; third, the day. First Phoebe,
or Pewee, 95-3-27; 96-3-26; 97-3-25.
sapsucker (passing) 94-3-26; s5 (not
noted;) 96-4s; 1881. Brown
Thrasher, "a -3-16; s5-4-1s; s6-4-12;s7-
4-2. Chipping Sparrow (Hair- bird)
94-4-7; 95-4-1; Bewick's
| Wren (sometimes called longtailed
House -Wren) 95- %; s6-3-24; ;s7-3-15.
Ruby crowned Kinglet, 94-4-3; 95-3-
27; 96-4-7; 1881. House Wren, "a
3-16; 95-4-26; 96-4-16; 97(expected
daily.) Chimney Swift, s6-4-15; 81
Ala. birds gone, 96-4-13; 81
4-14. The departure of the snowbirds
is one OF the most constant, though
my records are poor on it. 1t will be
seen from this that the birds came
earlier in '94 than they have since,
taking them all into consideration
The Chipping Sparrow is not very re-
liable as spring indicator, since he
tends to stay with us and sometimes
sings in February. For this reason
Meadow Larks, Black Birds, Blue Birds
and Robins are not reliable, since they
all may stay at times, or only go few
miles away and bounce in on us at any
spring like day. One Robin stayed
all winter around me this year ano
screamed some in January. The frs
little bird that comes up with the bud
is the Myrtle Warbler, a blue-grayisl
streaked bird with the crown, thu
sides of the breast and the rear of th'
back yellow. 1t, rather more truly
5 than the others noted, is correlated
with the vegetation, because it feed
directly out of the opening leaf. 1t
record is as follows: 94-3-22; 95 Ono
noted;) 96-4-15; 97-4-12. This las
:, was only one, and 1 have seen n
) others yet.
Now, the record of a few hom
>, flowers and plants-Jonquil. 95-4-2
0 97-4-1; peach bloom, 95-4-13; 90
Alb; 97-4-16. Dandeion, 95-4-14
a 96-4 13; 97-4-16. "a very constant an
reliable indicator.) Siberian Ora
bloom, 95-4-17; 97-4-1S; leaves
same fully out, 96-4-9; 97-4-11. Pear
: plums, etc., are going to open abo1
the same, two to four days later, at m
), place.
1 do not find the butterflies at a
regular in their coming. Many
o them also migrate, and are NOR
: easily handered by winds and oooi da,
than are the birds. Some OF thel
evidently hibernate, however, and
:, am sure their lives extend over mol
n than one season.
From the Goth Of April on, the Il
fiux and resurrection of life is
s. rapidly as to almost battle any effo
% at generalization. So powerful is Il
sun now that day of shine may
III of more effect than a week OF shade
IN R.