BIRDS OF THE SEASON
For permanent residents, see Bird-Lore for Dec, 1900, p. 183.
Departures of Summer Residents in October and November.—October 10, Maryland Yellow-throat, Pine Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Indigo bird, House Wren; October 15, Carolina Rail, Virginia Rail; October 20, Chewink, Brown Thrasher, Cat-bird, Vesper Sparrow, Phoebe, Meadow Lark; October 31, Bluebird; November 5, Chipping Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Savanna Sparrow, Cowbird, Bronzed Grackle; November 10, Cedarbird ; November 15, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow; November 20, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Marsh Hawk, Kingfisher.
Arrivals and Departures of Migrants in October and November.—October 1–20, White-crowned Sparrow; October 1–November 5, Hermit Thrush; October 21–December 1. Fox Sparrow; October 21, Tree Sparrow, Northern Shrike; October-November, Pine Finch, Ipswich Sparrow; November, Snow Bunting, Red Crossbills, White-winged Crossbill,[1] Pine Grosbeak,[1] Redpoll Linnet.[1]
OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER BIRD-LIFE NEAR NEW YORK CITY
By Frank M. Chapman.
October is a month of falling leaves and departing birds. Some time during the month the first "hard" frost may be expected, and doubtless during the entire year no other one event exercises so marked an influence on the character of our bird-life. In a night, as it were, the season passes from ripe maturity to old age, and the limp, sodden foliage of the less hardy plants is no less evident to the flower lover than is the absence of previously abundant birds to the ornithologist. The reason is obvious. The low temperature has not only robbed most insectivorous birds of their food but has deprived the arboreal species of the protection of leaf-hung branches.
This marks the end of the Warbler migration, and for the rest of the season Sparrows will be the common birds, frequenting weed and stubble fields. The length of their stay is largely dependent on the character of the weather, many species, as we have seen, lingering, under favorable conditions, until December.
October shows a further development of the second song period. Song, White-throated and Fox Sparrows, Phoebes, and Ruby-crowned Kinglets may always be heard singing fairly full-voiced performances during the month.
One may now also look for the diurnal migrations of Hawks and Crows, which, here, fly from northeast to southwest, and, a little later, the gathering of Grackles in enormous flocks, is characteristic of the season.
BIRDS OF THE SEASON
For permanent residents, see Bird-Lore for Dec, 1900, p. 184. Summer Residents Leaving for the South.— October 1–10, Black-crowned Night