St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-04-04
Spring Birds.


| NOTLU Is uOb OhAy NNSA~~-I
to the observer, but furnishes much In
formation that is eagerly sought for by
our government, as well as local institu-
tons. 1t may seem to some observers
too trivial a matter to report, say 10
orr Museum-that certain bird was
seen-an owl, hawk, a blue bird-or
whatever it may be, on a certain date;
Int such information coming from host
of observers gives data which is waltz
able.
The climatic conditions are not the
same each year, and the varying condi-
tious of climate bring about remarkable
changes in the visitation of birds. For
instance, about fourteen years ago
man wrote from Hardwick, VT, that he
had shot a bird such as he had never be-
fore seen. He did not know whether 1t
was an owl or a hawk. 1t proved to be
the hawk owl (Surnia uula). Within
dav or so another report OF a similar
kind came in, and another, and our local
taxidermist mounted over a hundred
specimens of the hawk owl that season;
and since that year but few, ii any, have
been seen in this locality.
For MANY years the snow bunting has
been common in this locality from Feb
ruary to April, and the horned lark
rare visitant. But for two seasons past
very few snow buntings have been seen.
and the horned lark has been a very COM
mon visitant; we have them with us
now, and they can be seen running fast
or flying low over the fields. or sitting
contentedly and without alright on the
fences by the roadside. tits only through
reports made by observers that it can be
determined to what locality the snow
buntings have taken themselves, and
from what locality the horned larks have
absented themselves. When such infor-
nation is impaired to our government
study is made Of the probable conditions
which caused change in the selection of
territory by these birds. An arcadian
owl was seen last week; if Others are
seen will the observers please report, they
may be abundant.
Until within few days we have had
but few of the winter and spring birds
with us. The pine grosbeak has been
abundant; there have been good many
crossbills, but these could hardly be
called abundant. The blue jay has been
common, so has the chickadee, the horned
lark the nuthatch, the woodpecker and
the crow. few hocks of pine linnets
have been seen at times during the win.
ter, and "the poor English sparrow we
have always with u.s." The robin and
the blue. bird have just made their APP
pearance, but are not as yet common.
The pine grosbeak is responsible for
many erroneous reports regarding the
arrival of the robin, and the chickadee is
likewise responsible for premature reports
of the arrival of the peewee. The spring
notes of the chickadee resemble very
closely the notes of the peewee; but the
peewee is OF the family of fy.catchers and
will not arrive until the weather is
warmer, although it is the first of the
fy-catchers to arrive.
During the next few days we may look
for the chipping sparrow, the ground
sparrow, the snow bird, the purple finch,
the purple grackle, the red-poll linnets,
the American goldfncb, the COW bunt-
ing, the song sparrow, and doubtless be-
fore the month is gone we shall hear the
white-throated sparrow, the cat bird,
Wilson's thrush and the peewee, and
along the streams we shall hear the chat
tering of the king6sher.
We shall have to wait for the warmer
days of May to bring the bulk of summer
birds. However, the spring birds are in
terestlng, and one gets to be very fond of
r the grosbeaks and crossbills, for you can
get as near to fiocks OF either of these as
you can to flock Of chickens.
. 1t is very natural for us to ask why il a
few robins or lew blue birds have ven
tured here so early, the bulk of them do
not come? 1t would be extremely inter
| esting if we could know their methods OF
selecting their fore-runners or fore fyers)
and their methods of communication.
That line of communication is estab.
lished is very apparent, and they arrive
: just as fast as the conditions will permit,
and when at last the supply of food is
: sufficient, the signal is given and the
p bulk of them arrive
April and May are the best months in
which to make study birds, and we are
favored with so many beautiful song
! birds in this locality, one is well repaid
i. for giving them little attention. The
best time to observe them is in the early
i morning while they are pouring forth
t their songs; and if one makes the effort
/. occasionally to walk to some of our hill
sides and sees but a single indigo birt
8 perched on some slender branch of tn,
n white birch, or scarlet tanager high al
Y on some dead branch of the hemlock i