The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-06-02
N. D. BIRD NOTES
By O. A. Stevens
North Dakota Agricultural College
and State Secretary of Audubon
SOCiatN

North Dakota Agricultural College
and State Secretary of Audubon
Society.
Fargo, N. D., June 2.-Where are
the kingbirds, the writer has been
wondering? Are they still delayed
by the cold weather or are they
less common than usual? To date
of writing at least he had not seen
any, although his average dates for
the first seen are May II for the
common kingbird and May Ia for
the Arkansan. Only two reports of
the former had been received: Bis
marck May IL and Wahpeton May
22. The Arkansas kingbird was seen
at Arnegard May 10, Bismarck and
jamestown May IL. Darlington May
II, Wahpeton May 22.
The kingbirds feed chiefly upon
flying insects and consequently do
not return until the weather has be-
come warm enough for such to be
abundant. Two other members of
the family also are among our late
Corners, the wood pewee and the
least flycatcher.
The former is characteristic of
the wooded regions of eastern
United States but less common with
us. The latter, also known as che
bee from it's sharp call note, is more
common through the plains region
and common summer bird of our
groves. The wood pewee was report
ed at Jamestown May 20 and %, the
least flycatcher at Wahpeton May
10 and Fargo May 16.
Another member Of the family,
the crested flycatcher is seen in the
state to limited extent only and
had not been reported at this date.
This bird nests in hollows in trees
and is famous for its use of snake
skins in it nests.
The phoebe, yet another of the
flycatchers, arrives considerably
earlier, being reported this year
from April 16 to May 4. Perhaps
its earlier arrival is to be account
ed for by the fact that it frequents
the river banks and that consider
able numbers of insects are found
there near the ground on warm
days, although they are not yet fly
ing high in the air where the king
birds hunt.
In contrast to such birds as the
song sparrows, horned larks and
screcch owls which are represented
by a large number of slightly diff
ferent geographical races in differ
cnt parts of the country, the king
birds arc the same the country over
They spend the winter in Central
America or northern South America
and in summer range over large
part of North America but are most
common east of the Rocky Noun
tains. The Arkansas kingbird win
and is a western bird, southeastern
Minnesota being about as far east
as it is seen regularly.
The goldfinch was first seen by
the writer on May 81 and was re-
ported from Wahpeton May "a. No
other records received at date of
writing. The movements of these
birds seem somewhat puzzling. They
are listed as wintering as far north
as the northern states eastward, and
to some extent in southern Mime
sofa. They belong to the seed eat
ers so many of which are more
hardy than the insect feeders, yet
they are late in their northward
journey. Perhaps the fact that they
do not travel far accounts for it..
They range in winter only to the
Gulf Coast and in summer to south
ern Canada.
The Baltimore oriole, one of the
best known of our late spring ar
rivals has been reported at jamestown
May 20, Wahpeton May %, Fargo
May %. Catbird, Wilson warbler
and redstart only from Wahpeton
May "a; yellow throat at Wahpeton
on the same date, also at Fargo.
No reports yet have been received
of nighthawk, humming bird, cedar
waxwing, dickcissel or cuckoo which
are the principal ones remaining
to complete the list for the year.
After finishing the above notes
the writer took his early morning
walk on May % and was rewarded
by seeing a small flock of cedar
waxwings. Goldfinches and Chez
bees were common, also orioles and
barn swallows, but no kingbirds
| were seem