The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-03-24

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birds. This year such weather came
Unexpectedly the third week In Feb
ruary. Many people wondered II the
birds really would begin to come SO
early and several reports indicate that
q distinct movement did occur. Judge
N. O. Thompson, at Lisbon, wrote that
q m~eadowlark was reported there
February 10: ducks were seen Febru-
airy =. also a marsh hawk, and crows
were common. Mrs. w. A. fIite, from
Ashley. wrote that mallards were seen
there February 10, and q meadowlark
was reported the next day.
Gale Monson, Argusville, saw crows
February 10, q marsh hawk February
a. and tree sparrows February %.
Edgar Preston, Tower City, also re-
ported q marsh hawk February II,
and crows February 20. Gordon Heg-
geness. Fargo, found q sparrow hawk
February -. Gordon seems to have
the earliest record for a robin, namely
March Is. He reports seeing one twice
that date and twice during the next
three days. One was reported at Tower
City March II.
Last Out, First Back
The first birds to appear In the
spring r the ones which were last
to leave in the fall. The few which
are seen exceptionally early are likely
to be some which have wintered near
by and are just beginning to move
about. This Is true especially of crows
and marsh hawks, which may be pres
ent until Christmas time and then
move only . short distance farther
south.
The earliest distinct migration in
our region Is that Of the horned larks.
Here. again. 1t Is difficult to say just
when migration begins, for we have
horned larks with us all winter as
q rule. Our winter birds are no doubt
those which nest farther north. About
the last week In February there Is an
apparent movement of birds, and new
individuals are singing in the fields.
These are U summer residents,
which will begin nesting almost be-
fore the snow Is gone from the ground.
wild Geese Come by March
The horned lark Is one of our most
characteristic prairie birds, and one
which deserves more attention than
its plain colors and quiet habits nat
urally attract. We find them usually
In small groups, or only one or two,
feeding In the fields OF In the road,
where they fly low ahead of the ap-
preaching car. AS they walk rapidly
from VI, their backs show only q
brownish gray color, much like that
Of the ground. II they face US at close
range we see yellowish Threats, q large
black spot on the breast, Q black
streak below the eye, and the back
tufts on the head which suggest the
horns" They are much smaller than
Z meadowlark, hardly larger than a
large sparrow.
rev II any Of the early migrants at
tract decentralization than the Wild
geese. They winter In the southern
half Of the United States and as far
northward - open water may be
found. On the Atlantic coast they are
common - far north as Massachu-
sets. Many remain in Yellowstone
park, whore the hot springs provide
open water. With the spring thaw they
move northwArd. keeping up with the
weather at . temperature Of about
s. degrees. At about February 10 their
front ranks are In central Missouri. A
month later they have reached north
efn Iowa. and North Dakota by the
end Of March. II d the last Of April
before they appear In their northern
limits on the Mckenzie river. Every
one knows that the weather In early
spring u uncertain. The geese move
readily and often fly back and forth