Evening journal., 1900-04-09
some BIRDS
OF FAIR APRIL
About Two Hundred Of the
Little Creatures on Record
for the Month.
ADVANCE GUARD OF SPRING

SUMNER FEATHERED RESIDENTS
BEGIN TO ARRIVE AND THOSE
OF THE WINTER START FORI
THE FAR NORTH.
The number OF species Of birds on
record for the month of April reaches
an even 200. The number is easily ac-
counted for when we consider that
quite a number OF birds that have
spent the Winter here move North
during April and that the advanced
guards OF our migrants and Summer
residents begin to arrive, writes +. c..
Kirkwood in the Baltimore sun. This
is the time for the local observer to bel
on the alert, so as TO find the first ar
rivals a few days ahead OF existing
dates, or the last stragglers a few days
behind time
All birds being migratory, the move
ments of all the different species have
TO be watched Those which like the
song sparrow, are with us all Winter,
increase in numbers by the influx of
individuals which have Wintered far
ther South, and later the numbers will
thin out until only those that will
spend the Summer with us remain. The
singing periods Of birds have also to
be noted, and the woods and fields will
now be found to resound with melody.
Frogs are also singing, the country be-
gins to lose its Wintry aspect, the early
flowers blossom, the air gets balmy and
the ornithOlogist gets the first touches
of spring fever.
WATER BIRDS.
The horned grebe. the pied-bill- erebe
and the loon are numerous. A single
Iceland gull was noted on the 2lst.
The great black-backed gull is iregu-
larry noted until the 26th. The herring
and ring-billed gulls are common. The
nrst laughing, or blaclheaded. gulls
are recorded on the 23d. and the little
Bcnaparte gulls are locally noted in
hceks all month. The latest note |
nave on the gannet Is the 21st, while
the douDle-crested cOrmorant occurs
all month, and white pelicans are on
record at Washington, ID. c., as rare
stragglers.
DUCKS.
The American merganser. or shell
drake is recorded to the 2Sth. the red
breasted merganser On the 26th. and
the hooded merganser all month; the
last mallard on the 9th This species
is the originator OF our common mud.
die duck, and the male is generally
called green-head mallard, while the
female is called gray mallard. Tn,
black duck, or black mallard. Is her,
all month, and no doubt had some
thing to do in originating the domesti,
duck The gadwall. or gray duel
proper, Is quite rare, but one is on rec
ord as being shot on the 4th. and Eu.
ropean widgeon was taken on Sinepux
ent bay ON the 5th. while its near rela'
tive, The baldpate, is last recorded OF
the Sth The European teal Is on rec
ord as being taken In the District O
columbia, and the green-wing teal an,
blue-wlng teal are here all month
The shoveler. or spoonbill duck, 4
scarce. The pintail, or sprigtail ha
been noted until the 2Sth wood duck
and redheads all month. but the las
canvasback on the Sth; the scaup. o
bay hlackhead, until the 2Sth: the M
tie, or creek, blackhead all month. an
the ring-necked duck until the 4tf
The golden-eye., or whittier, is recorde
to the 27th and the little buffleheat
butter ball or dipper, is here all month
The last old sQuaw, or south-southerl,
is recorded on the 26th while all thre
OF the sc0ters-the black. white-wing
ed and surf-are Ler.N all month. as
also the ruddy duck. coOt or grease
Snow geese. or white brant. are rar,
but have been recorded until the 21s
The Canada goose. or common will
goose. Is. here all month. but IS gradt
ally thinning out and toward the en-
OF the month is rather rare. Brar
have been recorded until the 18th an
swan to the 18th.
WADERS.
The American hitterm, or Indian he
Is here all month and no doubt the Ii
tie bittem arrives from the South du
ing this month, but as it is quite ell
siye, it has not been noted. The gre
blue heron, or crane, is in evidenc
The first green heron, OF poke. is not,
on the Sd, and the first night hero
qua or dogbird, on the 1st. The XII
rail, clapper rail, Virginia rail, sora
common rail and yellow rail are
here, but are seldom noted, being We
secretive in their habits and not pa
ticularly sought after at this seaso
Possibly the black rail also occur
The Florida gallinule is rare, while L
coot, commonly called crow-bill due
Is common.
CLASSIFIED between the waders pror
1-ss,-.-s.-----..-..-.-4s