I ‘ : :7.“ THE SUMMER FLOCKING. AND NBSTING OF COMMON BIRDS INTHE VICINITY OF THE W- K. KELLOGG BIRD SANCTUARY Thalia for the Degree of M. S. MICHIGAN. STATE COLLEGE Floyd C. Huggett l 9“ 4. g-» “on. U.NL‘ EL’KITY LIBRARIFS LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL LLL LL LLLLLLLL 31293 00585 022 THE SUMMER FLOCKING AND NESTING OF COMMON BIRDS IN THE VICINITY OF THE W.K. KELLOGG BIRD SANCTUARY BY, \‘myo Floyd CL‘Engett A THESIS Submitted to the Graduate School of Michigan State College of Agriculture and Applied Science in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE Zoology 191;! V «H5515 PREFACE This is a study of the behavior of birds in summer. Information regarding the late nesting activities and flocking behavior as they gather for feeding, roosting, or migration is lacking. The summer period has been long neglected by bird students and ornithological literature. Christmas bird censuses, the spring migration, and a.few life history studies have been carefully reported on, but summer seems to have been chiefly a time for vacations. The following pages report on the summer flocking and nesting of common birds as observed in the vicinity of the W. K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary between 1955 and l9h0. This paper reviews similar studies by others and also presents the author's conclusions after five summers of rather intensive field observations. Data presented include a check list of birds actually observed nesting or flocking and photographs to illustrate many items. The members of the Zoology Department of Michigan State College have been helpful in the preparation of this study. Dr. Hunt reviewed the manuscript and offered helpful suggestions. Professor Stack gave me assistance in field identification. Dr. Miles D. Pirnie, Director of the W. K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary, advised throughout the study and edited the final copy. The Kellogg Bird Sanctuary is part of Michigan State College and is general headquarters for local bird work, and several staff members gave valuable assistance. A qpq 14691:]- I To Dr. L. H. Walkinshaw, whose work in ornithology is well known, I am indebted for several references on the Field Sparrow, Goldfinch, and for assistance on several field problems. C. J. Henry had kept records of summer nesting in the bird houses at the W. K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary for two summers. Reference in the text is also made to reports by the following graduate students, who did field work at the Sanctuary: Ed. Graper; Wilma Stark and W. Reynolds Cardwell, who made reports on summer nesting; Myrtle Powers, who made several local marsh studies; and C. H. Bennett, who made observations on use of nest boxes. II TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface Part I Introduction - The Area Part II Summer Nesting Part 111 Summer Flocking Part IV Species Data on Nesting and Flocking Summary Conclusion Bibliography III 1 21 37 ’49 117 118 119 Table I Table II Table III Table IV Table V Table VI Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. I II III VI VII VIII XI XII XIII XIV XVII LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Data on Pine Growth Birds with Nesting Cycle Complete in July Birds with Nesting Cycle Going into Sept. Data on Willow Basin Nesting Summer Flocking to Fruit (Cherries) Summer Flocking to Fruit (Mulberries) Augusta Creek Habitat Michigan Map Ross Township Map Pine Plantings North of Wintergreen Lake Pine Planting and Wintergreen Lake Map of Pine Plantings att:he Kellogg Bird Sanctuary Graph Showing Summer Nesting Graph Showing Summer Nesting Willow Basin Habitat Nesting Check List Graph Showing Flocking Activities Wheat Field Habitat Flocking Check List Great Blue Heron - Green Heron Adult Green Heron Ybung Least Bittern ll 29 53 u; - 12 15 20 25 5h ELSE-‘8; 51 5h 55 58 Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. XVIII XIX XXII XXIII XXIV XXVI XXVII XXVIII XXIX Killdeer Mourning Dove Kingbird Crested Flycatcher Swallow Flock Purple Martins Starling Roos t Starling Flock Starling Flock Cowbird Egg Goldfinch Chipping Sparrow Nest 61+ 67 7o 72 77 79 91 9h 95 105 108 113 Part I INTRODUCTION Previous werk in the Area on Summer Nesting and Flocking Graduate students working under Dr. Pirnie's direction on specific problems in the area under discussion have gathered important parts of the data for the local picture of bird ecology in summer. Dr. L. H. Walkinshaw's work in the Battle Creek area is well known. His study of nesting populations in the neighboring area has given me an excellent measure to Judge and check similar populations here. His Goldfinch territory lies just to the south of mine and a comparison of our data is interesting in drawing conclusions. His Field Sparrow habitat lies in territory almost identical to the Kellogg Forestry Tract. Miss Myrtle Powers has studied the birds of the local marshes and lakes for several summers. For several years she was a teacher of biology in.the Augusta High School and made rather intensive studies at Augusta Creek, the Kalamazoo River, at Pond Lily Lake, and at Wintergreen Lake. Her records on the marsh.birds are fairly complete and are a source of much valuable information. Mr. Ed. Graper studied the summer nesting at the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary in 1932 and continued his investigations for several seasons. He was particularly interested inthe Eastern Goldfinch on the Kellogg Forestry Tract and Kellogg Bird Sanctuary. Myrtle Powers, C. J. Henry, C. H. Bennett and I have made records of the activities at the Sanctuary nest boxes. I made a two-year check on the summer relationship between the English Sparrow and the Purple Martin. The author has spent six summers (1935-19h0) in rather intensive field wnrk. (Graduate w>rk with Michigan State College.) Each summer I lived in the area from about June 20 until the last days of August, with other visits on alternate days until September 10 or 12. In the summer of 1939, I was absent for the first six weeks period for work at the Campus. For the last twenty years I have been active in field work at various points between.my home and the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary, as my home is located about twelve miles directly east of Ross Township and two miles north in Barry County. In this report I have tried to confine my observations to the summer period and the area studied. Territogyglncluded in the Field Work This study was centered in Ross Township, which_ lies in the extreme north-east corner of Kel amazoo County, Michigan. This locality is in an extensive outwash plain which was formed in the angle of the Lake Michigan and Saginaw lobes when.the ice border was only a few miles from the present site of Gull Lake. (Scott, 1921) The region is characterized by pit lakes and kettle holes which, presumably, were formed by the burying of ice blocks flaich melted and left basins sunk below the surface of the plain. Wintergreen and Gull Lakes were probably so formed, as also were the small kettle holes found on the Kellogg Farm. This part of Michigan was originally covered by a subclimax forest of oak and hickory. That this is a seral stage dependent upon edaphic conditions is shown by the occupation of the richer and more mexophytic soils by beech and maple, which may be considered the true climax for this region, and which may be expected gradually to replace the more xerophytic oak-hickory stage. As the hills are eroded and lakes are filled the mesophytic areas increase (Cowles, 1901) and may, under natural conditions, be expected eventu- ally to characterize the region. The nature of the original forest was described by Durant (1880) and by Thomas who, writing in 1869, says, ". . . the surface is rolling and is composed principally of oak openings with some beech and maple skirting the river and some of the creeks." As the Kellogg Farm and Sanctuary support no beech-maple at the present time, the entire area may be considered developmental from.the standpoint of succession. Within the boundaries of Ross Township lie three important branches of Michigan State College, all gifts from ‘W. K. Kellogg of Battle Creek. The first holding of the College that we will discuss lies Just north of Augusta in the southern.part of the township and is a 300-scre tract of land known as the Kellogg Forestry Tract. The topography of this area varies from.the marsh bordered Augusta Creek which Fig. I The W. K. Kellogg Forestry Tract A view taken between the swamp forest and Augusta Creek lowlands and the higher grass- covered hills back from the highway. Many summer nests were found in this area. where Fig. II Map of Area Studied (Location of Kalamazoo County and Ross Township in relation to the rest of the state.) \K 1 1. Kalamazoo County and Ross Township, including the city of Kalamazoo. 2. Battle Creek 5. Flint 3. Grand Rapids 6. Ann Arbor h. Lansing 7. Detroit .e‘l .34). ‘90 i . r; .flyi turn)! 1. .,. . If, \\ 5" see. I T Fig. III Map of the Area Studied Ross Township, Kalamazoo County L---._--- Area of most intensive study by the author. “ 1. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary and Farm- .-x”L 2. Kellogg Forestry Tract. winds along the western edge to the rather high, wooded hills on the eastern side. Many young trees have been planted and the Forestry Department of the College is carrying out a definite forestry program. (Fig. I) Two miles to the north.and west (section 8) and surrounding Wintergreen Lake lie the 150 acres of the W. K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary. This is primarily a waterfowl refuge with large concentrations of ducks and geese at the height of the fall migration. The extensive plantings of conifers on the higher ground combine with the natural vegetation along the lake shore to offer many bird habitats. North of the Sanctuary and occupying the remainder of Section 8 are the hSO acres of the W. K. Kellogg Farm. Like the Kellogg Forestry Tract and the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary, this farm.is operated .by the Michigan State College for experimental and demonstration purposes. Wintergreen Lake, of about twenty-five acres, lies at the.891-foot contour. The highest point on the area is south-east of the Sanctuary and is 935 feet above sea level. The Sanctuary and that portion of the Farm to the west and east are too hilly for cultivation. The level parts of the Farm.are on the east and north borders. It is in these fields that the cultivated crops are raised. The soil of the Kellogg Farm is a Bellefontaine sandy loam. (Perkins and Tyson, 1926) It is variable as to humus content and in spots is quite sandy. According to the classification of Veatch (1933) it varies locally from.first to third-class farmland. Where the fields are level, excellent crops of grain and hay are raised in good season. The south-west corner of Section 8 includes Gull Lake, the largest body of water in this portion of the state. Along the shore of the lake and separated from the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary by a road is Midland Park. This resort is a collection of cottages, all of which are occupied in summer. It lies on the flats next to the lake amid a grove of second- growth oaks. On the west boundary the Sanctuary and Farm are adjacent to several Gull Lake estates. On the north the Farm is bounded by more but similar farm land. Eastward from the Sanctuary and the Farm the con- ditions for summer bird study also are ideal. A varied topography of hills and valleys, including much waste land, offers other types of habitats. Interspaced are cultivated farms with owners willing to cooperate in studies undertaken by students of the College. Some of the swales remain wet all summer, several of the lakes have rather extensive swamp forests on their margins ,- and Augusta Creek has miles of marshy border. Many of the hills are in permanent pasture, some of the fields have not been cultivated fcr several years and are fast becoming tangled thickets. The farms under cultivation carry on a diversified program with rotation of most of the crops common to Michigan, a condition favorable to many bird species. Gull Lake and Wintergreen Lake have already been mentioned. Other more important lakes are: Duck Lake north of Wintergreen, Sherman.Ldke south of Gull, Pond Lily Lake close to Sherman, Hamilton Lake in the northeeast corner of the section, and Stony Lake located just north of M-89 in the central part of Ross Township. The south-east corner of the township is crossed by the Kalamazoo River. At this point it is bordered by'a marsh zone and rather extensive swamp forests. Augusta Creek inter- sects the river at this point. This well defined stream flows through Hamilton Lake and carries a good volume of water all the year. Its marsh areas and shrub zones are extensive, and together with the river it forms the major waterway of Ross Township. Kalamazoo County has an average growing season of from 150 to 160 days. (Schneider, 1917) The average date of the last killing frost is May 1 to 5. The first killing frost usually occurs after October 10. Annual precipitation in this portion of the country is usually between 30 and 3h inches. (Hill, Riddle, and Elliott, 1930) The mean annual temperature at Kalamazoo is h7.9 F. (Perkins and Tyson, 1926) The summer and winter means are 69.9 F. and 2h.9 F., respec- t ivelye Habitat Changes During_Period of Study from l93§gto l9h0 The various habitats ranging from the open water to the upland woods have already been discussed. During the five years of the study, habitats like the wooded areas changed very little. In contrast, however, the coniferous plantings at 10 W. K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary and the shrub zone around Winter- green Lake did change extensively. Turning to the shrub zone for a moment, it is a matter of common knowledge that the Buttonrbush in the wet locations and the mixture of Grey and Red-osier Dogwood and Common Elder in the dryer situations will replace themselves in from two to three years if removed; or if allowed to con- tinue and a stand of young poplars comes in, the shrub zone soon goes and the shift is to a wooded habitat. Only by observation of such an area will one come to realize how quickly Nature effects such changes when conditions are favor- able. The complexity of this study was increased by the growing-up of the coniferous plantings. In 1935 none of the trees was over ten feet tall and most of them.measured from three to six feet. (Fig. IV) An average taken in August of l9h0 showed an average heighth of fourteen and one-half feet with some as high as twenty-three feet. A six-foot tree is not difficult to examine for a nest, nor does such a tree obstruct your view of other trees. The branches at this age do not interlace and passage among them.is not difficult. However, when these trees reach heights of fifteen or twenty feet with branches locked together and limbs far out of reach, the view is cut off from other trees and the time involved in examining a given area is much greater. The number of nests found is less but that is not proof that fewer birds use the larger trees. 11 Table I Pine Plantings at the W. K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary Average for 30 trees P. P. P. P. *Inches of growth per year (average) 1955 1955 1957 1958 1959 19h0 resinosa . . . . . 5 17 (by office) resinosa . . . 1h 17 (by Martin house) Strobus . . . . 9 21 (by Martin house) sylvestris . . . 31 27 (north of lake) Picea canadensis . . . 27 10 P. P. (Christmas tree planting) resinosa (by office) Average heighth in 1935 Average heighth in 1 0 resinosa (by Martin house #2) Average heighth in 1 g Average heighth in 19 O Strobus (by Martin house #2) Average heighth in 19 5 Average heighth in 19 O sylvestris (north of lake) Average heighth in 19 5 Average heighth in 19 O 12 21 20 31 21 2h 12 28 57 3 11 21 no 22 25 25 feet feet feet feet feet feet 10 feet 23 feet Picea canadensis (Christmas tree planting) . Average heighth in 1935 Average heighth in 19 O 22 2o 29 12 1h 9 inches 3 feet 3 inches 10 feet 2 inches * Average of ten picked at random for average growth. Fig. IV The W. K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary Looking East Pine planting north of Wintergreen Lake. (l9h0) 15 Fig. V Pine Plantings - W. K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary This is the same planting as Fig. IV. View looking north over Wintergreen Lake from.the east shore - August, 19MB. 1h A Goldfinch nest three feet from the ground in a Red Pine in 1935 may be built twelve to fifteen feet up under almost identical conditions five years later. The Robin and the Mourning Dove use the large trees perhaps more freely than they do the small ones, but their nests occur at almost any distance from the ground. Crows are beginning to nest in the larger pine trees. The Chipping Sparrows seem to show a preference for the smaller White Spruces east of Wintergreen Lake; and perhaps here is one species that will use the higher trees to a limited extent. Larger trees offer greater possibilities for roosting and flocking. Mourning Doves were flushed by flashlight from the larger Scotch Pines in 1939. They were located from ten to twenty feet up in thirty-foot pines and.were flushed while there was still enough light for them.to find other roosts for the night. Starlings began to use the pines west of the lake after they were higher than the near-by shrubs and deciduous trees. On the other hand, flocks were harder to follow in flight, the tops of trees were sometimes in the way of good photographic shots, and free movement among the trees was much.hampered as soon as the limbs touched one another. And so we find ornithological field work in the coniferous habitat more difficult in 191m because of tree size; but as a thinning program continues and more small trees are planted, the variety of cover and nesting locations offered will give very valuable chances for future summer nesting comparisons. 15 Habitat Types Present fcr Bird Use . Open Water Habitat. This habitat is present in the larger lakes of the area. Gull, Wintergreen, Hamilton, aid Sherman Lakes are the best examples. These open water areas are much used by migratory waterfowl in both the spring and fall. Spatter-dock and Cattail Habitat. Between the open water and the shore line often appears a zone of aquatic plants known as the spatter-dock zone. The principle plant at Wintergreen Lake is the Yellow Pond Lily which grows in the shallow water along the shore. In some places this zone may occupy almost the entire lake as it does at Pond Lily Lake. In no place on this lake is the water too deep for healthy growth. It gives way quickly, however, to deep water or retreating shore lines. I At the W. K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary the Yellow Pond Lily zone is the dominant aquatic vegetation of the swale, and out in.the lake proper it widens to fifty feet or more in some sections. The Swans pull it up for nesting material and the roots serve as an ideal loafing place for the smaller waterfowl. Marsh Habitat. The total area of this habitat is quite large. Of the areas under consideration the largest is along Augusta Creek and around Wintergreen Lake. The one- third mile swale near the outlet of Wintergreen Lake is typical of many in the area and so was observed to considerable extent. Although the water level here is variable, normally 16 it does not fluctuate greatly. Upland Woods Habitat. The trees most typical are oak and hickory. Of the three species of oak present, black oak (Quercus velutina) is the most abundant, with red oak (Quercus borealis maxima) second in importance. White oak (Quercus alba) is the least common of the three. Among the oaks is to be found a fairly constant mixture of pignut hickory (Carya glabra), wild black dierry (Prunus serotina), red maple (Acer rubrum), aid, in spots, white ash (Fraxinus americana). Red maple and white ash are more characteristic of the low woodland habitat but often occur as secondary species in the upland oak woods of this region, becoming more numerous in locations of greater moisture. The woods is naturally open in character and in spots a few individuals of flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) or wild crab (Malus sp.) occur, with here and there a fairly denSe growth of sassafras (Sassafras officinale). Upland Brush Habitat. Several species of w>ody plants characterize the upland brush.habitat as it occurs on this area. In the well-drained sandy soil of the vicinity, sassafras is almost alre to be present. One of the most typical trees of this type of cover is hawthorn (Crataegus sp.), and oak is likely to be an early invader. Blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis), black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis), red raspberry (Rubus idaeus strigosus), aid rose (Rosa sp.) commonly form a thick taigle. Over these trees, brush heaps, and through the briars a heavy growth of wild grape (Vitis 17 vulpina) is frequently found. As well as grey dogwood (Cornus candissima), shining sumach (Rhus copallina) is often very common in such habitats. In the deepest parts of the swales the water is several feet deep and the bottom is soft, partially-decayed humus over clay. Here the most characteristic plant is Yellow Pond Lily (Nymphozanthus advena). This pond lily zone occurs in varying width in such lakes as Wintergreen and Pond Lily. In fact, at Pond Lily the entire lake is of this type with almost no open water. At Wintergreen Lake the Yellow Pond Lily zone is quite wide and serves as a roosting place for the Eastern Redwing and as cover aid feed for the various waterfowl. In the shallows cattail (Typha latifolia) sometimes occurs in solid stands to the exclusion of all other species. This plant is found more sparingly in the swales that have been completely dry or where it has been eradicated by musk- rats. Sedges (Carex sp.) are more common and often take its place. Other common plants of this habitat are swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnate), swamp dock (Rumex verticullatus), and in shaded places jewel weed (Impatiens biflora). Lowland Brush Habitat. This habitat borders most of the shore line of the lakes and streams and forms a brushy margin around the greater portion of the swales. Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) is a well-defined type which exists in comparatively pure stands in the wetter portions of the habitat. Deep water retards its invasion but does not kill it 18 out. In dry years it seeds readily, as between 1931 and 1937 at the W. K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary, and replaces marsh herbs. The swale hush, found on dryer soil than the Button- bush, is characterized by a mixture of gray dogwood (Cornus candidissima), silky dogwood (Cornus amomum), red-osier dogwood (Cornus stolonifera), black elder (Sambucus canadensis), and various less plentiful shrubs such as wild.rose (Rose sp.), nannyberry (Viburnum lentago), service berry (Amelanchier canadensis), and others. The mixed shrubs contitute the most extensive swale brush type. It is variable, often with one of the constituents, such as gray dogwood, red-osier dogwood, or elder, forming a pure stand locally. Willow is a third distinct type of lowland brush. In spots of low sandy soil that is not too wet sandbar willow (Salix longifolia) flourishes. The stems are typically from eight to ten feet in height and grow in close, pure stands. In much.the same situation an active growth of quaking aspen (Populus temuloides) is sometimes found. The young shoots are often mixed with the shrubs, and in dryer places the mature aspens may assume dominance. Lowland Woods Habitat. The lowland woods are most extensive along the shore of the Kalamazoo River and on the margins of Augusta Creek. The most definitive species of thishabitat are red maple (Acer rubrum), American elm, (Ulmus americana), and white ash (Fraxinus americana). Associated with these trees the following herbs are common: wood nettle (Laportea canadensis), jewel weed (Impatiens biflora), and 19 Virginia creeper (Psedera quinquefolia). In the Kalamazoo River bottmm as well as along parts of Augusta Creek, poison ivy (Rhus Toxicodendron L.) is sometimes very common. Coniferous Plantings at the W. K. Kellogngird Sanctuary; Soon after this area was purchased in 1927, large plantings of conifers were made on the new bird sanctuary and on the hilly parts of the adjacent farm. Approximately twenty acres have been planted to conifers. The stands are scattered over about 100 acres, chiefly in the south-west part of the College area and about Wintergreen Lake. The plantings vary from a few scattered trees to five acres of massed pines. The species most commonly used were red pine (Pinus resinosa), white pine (Pinus Strobus), jack pine (Pinus banksiana), Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris), and white and Norway spruces (Picea canadensis and Picea Abies). I —.— 5 I L I L L L L L L L L 4 W A L L L L L ' L L L L L I O .i :2 L: 2;.» . “'4 z " 1,. Fig. VI Pine Plantings at the w. K. L 660 000 cu ogre .zm :‘s' I k (v I -_-- ‘-.-_--“_“-. '.u s ..s::)\\' ‘I "" OLE-J Kellogg Sanctuary and Farm . Pine - «- Spruce 21 Part II SUMMER NESTING There is a big influx of migratory birds in from March to May and there is a peak of nesting in May or June for most species. While there is a slow tapering off for many species in June with very few or no records of nesting in early July, yet this is just the beginning of rather concentrated nesting activities for other species which nest continually through the summer or start nesting somewhat later than the others. As a rule, however, the nests are not as numerous, and are much more difficult to find in terms of man hours. Song is on the decrease and the weather often is very hot for extensive tramping through swales and brush. However, there is much more summer nesting than most ornitho- logical literature leads one to believe. In this study I have considered only those nests that were observed to contain eggs or young after June 21, the beginning of the summer season. I have observed the following fifty-one birds nesting after June 21. Those in which less than five nestings was observed are marked with (e), as uncommon nesters of midsummer. *Pied-billed Grebe *Mallard Great Blue Heron *Black Duck Eastern Blue Heron swood Duck Eastern Least Bittern *Eastern Bob-white 22 *Virginia Rail Cedar Waxwing *Florida Gallinule *Starling *American Coot *Yellow-throated Vireo Killdeer *Eastern Yellow Warbler *Spotted Sandpiper English Sparrow Black Tern *Bobolink Eastern Mourning Dove Eastern Meadowlark *Chimney Swift Eastern Redwing Northern Flicker Baltimore Oriole Eastern Kingbird Bronzed Crackle Alder Flycather Eastern Cowbird Eastern Wood Pewee Eastern Cardinal Tree Swallow Indigo Bunting Barn Swallow Eastern Goldfinch Bank Swallow *Red-eyed Towhee Purple Martin Eastern Grasshopper Sparrow wNorthern Blue Jay *Western Henslow's Sparrow *Eastern Crow Eastern Chipping Sparrow Ohio House Wren Eastern Field Sparrow Catbird Mississippi Song Sparrow *Brown Thrasher Eastern Robin Eastern Bluebird. A glance at Fig. VII shows 26 species that were found to be rather heavy nesters in July, at least 17 that nest into August, and 5 species that may nest even as late as the first half of September. 25 Fig. VII Chart Showing Nesting into Summer June July August September ,Starling - - - - - Bronzed Crackle ...... - Eastern Redwing —----- - - American Bittern ------ - - Spotted Sandpiper ..... - - - - Black Tern ------ - - - - Eastern Wood Pewee ------- - - - - Catbird ------- - - - EaStorn Bluab 1rd ...... -- ..... Killdeer ---_----- - - - - Great Blue Heron ................ - Eastern Green Heron ............... - Eastern Least Bittern ' ............... - Northern Flicker ............... - Eastern Kingbird ............... - - Alder Flycathher ---------------- - Purple Martin ................ - Ohio House wren ................ - Eastern Robin ................. - Eastern Cardind. ................ - - Indigo Bunting .................... - Western Henslow's Sparrow .................... - Eastern Chipping Sparrow -------------------- - Eastern Field Sparrow .................... - Mississippi Song Sparrow -------------------- - Eastern Mourning Dove ......................... - Cedar Waxwing ......................... - English Sparrow ......................... - Red-eyed Towhee ......................... - Eastern Goldfinch --- ..................... - ............ Nesting period ...... Occasional nesting Note: This chart is intended to give the reader the nesting cycle for each species as observed. The extension of the heavier line into the summer months from.June gives some idea of the duration of nesting. Fig. VIII Chart Showing Nesting into Summer June July August September 1e Mallard ..1 ...._ ... _ -1. 2. Starling _,~ _.__ 3. Bronzed . Grackle' 1 -. ...‘fl.’ , «av—- ~ -_, L. Eastern - Redwing--- 5 e Mourning Dove 6. English ~ *‘ Sparrow 7. Eastern M “ Goldfinch " ‘ , ”he. , -~~“‘ " “ End of principal nesting season. _11.1 mi. Rare, late, or renesting. Note: This chart is intended to show the reader a comparison between a bird that nests very little in summer, to a species that nests entirely during that period. Species of intermediate status are also shown. Fig. VIII Chart Showing Nesting into Summer June July August September 1. Mallard .1 I _ I I. 2. Sterling i i -- 3. Bronzed .1_ Crackle s . - ~ fir.—_ q” ,1. -. h. Eastern Redwing 5. Mourning L p 7 Dove , . , - ~ *' “ 6. English Sparrow 7. Eastern M“ ” Goldfinch “' * ~ , a“, , "1 End of principal nesting season. i__-- 1-. Rare, late, or renesting. Note: This chart is intended to show the reader a comparison between a bird that nests very little in summer, to a species that nests entirely during that period. Species of intermediate status are also shown. 25 The birds that nest into September are: Eastern Mourning Dove Cedar Waxwing English Sparrow Red-eyed Towhee Eastern Goldfinch The six additional species that may occasionally nest in September, or at least have young broods still in the nest are: Eastern Robin . Eastern Cardinal Indigo Bunting .Western Henslow's Sparrow Eastern Field Sparrow Mississippi Song Sparrow Some of these species wiich produce second broods of young after a successful first nesting attempt. The writer found such attempts difficult to determine as positive. From my observations I would list the following: Mourning Dove Eastern Bluebird Eastern Robin English Sparrow There are few references in the literature to second nests, but Forbush suggests that the following do renest: 26 Eastern Green Heron Catbird Black Tern Cedar Waxwing Alder Flycatcher Eastern Redwing Ohio House wren Eastern Cardinal Indigo Bunting Eastern Chipping Sparrow Eastern Goldfinch Eastern Field Sparrow Red-eyed Towhee Mississippi Song Sparrow In his £132 History Studies g; _t_:_h_e Eastern Goldfinch, Dr. L. H. walkinshaw (Battle Creek, Michigan) says, "Most of the birds on the area nested much earlier than the Goldfinch, but a few during the different years were found to nest during the late summer. These were: Green Heron (Butorides v. virescens (Linn.)), Mourning Dove (Zenaidura macroura caroli- nensis (Linn.)), Bob-white (Colinus vir. virginianus (Linn.)), Yellowbbilled Cuckoo (Coccyzus amer. americanus (Linn.)), Alder Flycatcher (Empidonax trailli trailli (Audubon)), Prairie Marsh wren (Telmatodytes palustris dissaeptus (Bangs)), Short- billed Marsh wren (Cistothorus stellaris (Naumann)), Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis (Linnaeus), Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum.Vieillot.), Starling (Sturnus vulgaris vulgaris Linnaeus.), Northern Yellow-throat (Geothlypis trichas brachidactyla (Swainson)), Cardinal (Richmondena cardinalis cardinalis (Linn.)), Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea (Linn.)), Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla pusilla Wilson )), Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana (Latham)), and Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia euphonia wetmore.) (1929) 27 In Fig. VIII I have picked several species at random to ilhistrate the spread of nesting to filich I have referred. The Mallard and Starling are at the close of their nesting season as summer begins. The Grackle and Redwing have already been nesting in May but it will be noted that they continue well into the summer. Then, the last three, Mourning Dove, English Sparrow, and Eastern Goldfinch, are actively nesting in summer. It is, of course, impossible to present an exact list of the birds that will be found nesting in any given month. In an attempt to convey a picture of summer nesting, however, I have listed in Table II all of the birds that seem.to bring to a close their nesting activities during the month of July. All birds listed nest commonly enough in the area so that I have a record of five or more nests that con- tained the young birds or eggs at this stage. All birds that continued to nest on into August or September are listed in Table III. In this list again, except where noted, at least five active nests were observed. Others are naturally late nesting or second attempts after the first nests were broken up. English Sparrows will attempt a nest over and over if it is removed and the most noteworthy exception to ordinary nesting is the Eastern Gold- finch, which.does not begin until the last days of June or early July. Because the writer was trying to determine the status of most of the summer birds, no attempt was made to find all 28 Table II Summer Nesting The following birds complete their nesting cycle by mid-summer. Name of Bird Total June July August September Nests Great Blue Heron Lo 0 he 0 0 Eastern Redwing 3O 3O 0 O 0 per year Purple Martin 20 8 12 O 0 per year Ohio House Wren 1h 9 8 o 0 Eastern Bluebird 26 10 12 h o Bronzed Grackle 20 20 O O O Catbird 6 h 2 o 0 Eastern Green Heron 11 3 8 O 0 Black Tern 15 2 12 l 0 Killdeer 9 O 9 O O Pied-billed Grebe 7 2 3 2 0 Eastern Least Bittern 8 2 6 O 0 Eastern Kingbird h 0 h 0 0 American Bittern h h 0 O 0 Florida Gallinule 5 3 2 0 0 Note: The birds listed above have completed their nesting cycle by the end of July and only occasionally continue on into August. (This chart includes June records only after the 21st.) 29 Table III Summer Nesting The following birds may nest in early summer, but the cycle continues into August and perhaps September. Name of Bird Total June July August September Nests Eastern Goldfinch 97 O 13 80 h English Sparrow 110 38 Lo 21 11 Eastern Mourning Dove 51 2 ' 2h 20 Eastern Robin 50 111 27 9 0 Mississippi Song 8 2 h 2 O Sparrow Eastern Field Sparrow 31 3 1h 13 1 Eastern Chipping 29 19 9 l O Sparrow Eastern Grasshopper 10 O 10 O O Sparrow Cedar Waxwing Eastern Cardinal Indigo Bunting a: \n -q ox <3 c> \N c> c: [U n) to n: xx a) Ir OOOO Red-eyed Towhee (This chart includes June records only after the 2lst.) 30 of the nests of any given species. As soon as a fair sample of nests had been found to give an indication of how extensive the species was and diet the time interval for nesting was the field.work was turned to some other phase of the problem. To use one example, it will be noted that the total number of nests observed for the Bluebird (Table II) is almost as many as for the Eastern Redwing. It was very easy to note the nest of the Bluebird as I went by the nesting boxes and several nests were located each summer. While in the case of the Eastern Redwing my total of nests includes samples taken at regular intervals in sections of the swale which seemed to be representative of all the swales. I estimate that the total number of nests observed on this species is not as high a percent of the total nests in the area as is the Bluebird total. Other examples might be given.but I think the point is clear that a simple table of total number of nests does not give the picture of bird life in summer, but field conditions must also be considered. The tendency to nest during the entire summer is in striking contrast to the flocking and migration activities. Under ordinary conditions one expects the nesting cycle to be completed and this followed by an increased tendency to flock and finally migrate. ‘With the Mourning Dove, however, the nesting continues in fair numbers into September and yet flocks of thirty to fifty non-breeding adults and juveniles are seen as soon as 31 the middle of July. A young dove banded May 22, 1931 by Homer Bradley at the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary was found July 1 of the same year at LaGrange, Indiana. He has several other records from the south but none to Show a southward movement so soon after the bird was able to fly. It is my belief, however, that many of the young birds are in flocks and beginning to migrate by mid-July. The north fence of the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary is a favorite loafing place early in July for small groups of a dozen birds or less. By the first of August, flocks of thirty or more birds are common. They dust in the road, perhaps eat grit. Some feed in nearby grain fiekis as was indicated by the crop contents a juvenile bird collected on July 29, 19110. On this same date, Dr. Pirnie observed, "about 1.00 in flocks of 30 and to along the west swale of the W. K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary." The birds were observed in the willow trees, on fences, and Liter in the Scotch pines. Concentrations were found chiefly along the north half of the Sanctuary swale. These birds were very wary. Summer Nesting in Willow Basin (Kellogg_Bird Sanctuary). Summer nesting for several species is well illustrated at the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary by an.area known locally as ”Willow Basin". It is a small tract of four a? five acres on the south side of the Sanctuary property. It lies in the fcrm of a small valley with a grov th of Willow and Buttonbusl'ns 32 in the wet area in the center. There is much native cover present in addition to some conifer plantings that have been added in the last few years. There are tangles of juniper, dewberry, and grape- vine that cover the ground and form.excellent locations for low nesting birds. Many shrubs of both the conifer and deciduous types are interspaced with grass areas, while trees of good heighth fill in the margins and the low land. (Fig. IX) As an example of the summer nesting of this area I have listed in the following table the nests observed in a thirty-minute period on August 6, l9h0. This is a rather late date and no field work had been done before this time. Nine nests were found in thirty minutes with the results as noted. It seems certain that other nests must also have been present, but time did not permit a more careful search. While this is a higher concentration of nests than one might expect to obtain, it is due in part to the wide diversity of cover present, which thus attracts numerous species. Willow Basin produces some natural fruit (cherries and elderberries) and many different kinds of weed seed. Water is also to be found in a small fountain placed there by the Sanctuary staff for the wild turkeys that roam.about. As a result it is an ideal loafing ground for family groups and some larger flocks are observed here. 55 Table IV Nests Found at Willow Basin of the W. K. Kellogg August Song Sparrow l Chipping Sparrow l Catbird English Sparrow 2 Song Sparrow Mourning Dove 2 Robin 2 Mourning Dove Cowbird 1 Goldfinch Chipping Sparrow 1 Chipping Sparrow Mourning Dove 2 Goldfinch 1 Bird Sanctuary 6, l9hO, in 30 minutes E88 Egg Young Young Young E83 E88 Young Egg h feet 3 feet 6 feet 8 feet h feet 6 feet 6 feet 3 feet 6% feet A feet Red Cedar Irish Juniper Red Cedar Red Cedar Red Cedar Red Cedar Red Cedar Red Cedar Wild Plum Wild Plum Early nest. Young dead. Young appear to have left . Young half- grown. Nest on Robin. Young dead h or 5 days. Early nest. New Gold finch with 1 Cowbird egg. Adults and family of three. Caught gone. 7 feet 6 feet Red Cedar Apple Just out of nest. Young half- grown. Nest on old Catbird nest. Deserted. Fig. IX Willow Basin at the W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary 3h The above photograph, taken on August 20, 19h0, illustrates the wide variety of cover as ,described in the text. F180 X 35 Check List of Birds Observed Nesting After June‘21 . (Arranged in the order of the Cheek List 2: Birds of Michigan by Dr. J. Van Tyne.) 1. 2o 5. sh. 5. s6. s7. *8. s9. GiO. *il. 12. 13. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. Podilymbus podiceps podiceps (Linnaeus) Ardea herodias herodias Linnaeus Butorides virescens virescens (Linnaeus) Botaurus lentiginosus lentiginosus (Montagu) Ixobrychus exilis exilis (Gmelin) Pied-billed Grebe Great Blue Heron‘ Eastern Green Heron American Bittern Eastern Least Bittern Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos Linnaeus Mallard Anas rubripes Brewster Rallus limicola limicola Vieillot Porzana carolina (Linnaeus) Gallinula chloropus cachinnans Bangs Fulica americana americana Gmelin Charadrius vociferus vociferus Linnaeus Actitis macularia (Linnaeus) Chlidonias nigra surinamensis (Gmelin) Zenaidura macoura carolinensis (Linnaeus) Colaptes auratus luteus Bangs Tyrannus tyrannus (Linnaeus ) Myiarchus crinitus boreus Bangs Empidonax trailli trailli (Audubon) Myiochanes virens (Linnaeus) Iridoprocne bicolor (Vieillot) Hirondo rustica erythrogaster Boddaert Black Duck Virginia Rail Sora Florida Gallinule American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Black Tern Eastern Mourning Dove Northern Flicker Eastern Kingbird Northern Crested Flycatcher Alder Flycatcher Eastern Wood Pewee Tree Swallow Barn Swallow 23. 2h. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 50. 51. 52. 35- 51+- 55. *36. 57- 38. 39. ho. hi. 1&2. 1+5. ML. 15. h6. Progne subis subis (Linnaeus) Cyanocitta cristata bromia Oberholser Troglodytes aedon baldwini Oberholser Dumetella carolinensis (Linnaeus) Turdus migratdrius migratorius Linnaeus Sialia sialis sialis (Linnaeus) Bombycilla cedrorum.Vieillot Sturnus vulgaris vulgaris Linnaeus Vireo flavifrons Vieillot Passer domesticus domesticus (Linnaeus) Sturnella magna magna (Linnaeus) Agelaius phoeniceus phoeniceus (Linnaeus) Icterus galbula (Linnaeus) Quiscalus quiscula aeneus Ridgway Molothrus ater ater (Boddaert) 56 Purple Martin Northern Blue Jay Ohio House Wren Catbird Eastern Robin Eastern Bluebird Cedar Waxwing Starling Yellow-throated Vireo English Sparrow Eastern Meadowlark Eastern Redwing Baltimore Oriole Bronzed Grackle Eastern Cowbird Richmondena cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus) Eastern Caunnal Passerina cyanea (Linnaeus) Spinus tristis tristis (Linnaeus) Pipilo erythrophthalmus erythrophthalmus (Linnaeus) Ammodramus savannarum australis Maynard Indigo Bunting Eastern Goldfinch Red-eyed Towhee Eastern Grasshopper Sparrow Passerherbulus henslowi henslowi (Audubon) Western Henslow's Spizella passerina passerina (Bechstein) Spizella pusilla pusilla (Wilson) Melospiza melodia euphonia Wetmore * Observed with young only. Sparrow Eastern Chipping Sparrow Eastern Field Sparrow Mississippi Song Sparrow 57 Part III SUMMER FLOCKING The Flocking_Habit. The habit of flocking is universal with almost all bird species at some time in their life history. Sometimes it is the juvenile birds as they leave the nest in that first summer. Other times it is a mixed flock of adults and juveniles that wander about looking for food or enjoying one another's company. Theilocking habit remains for migration, continues on the winter feeding ground, follows through as migration once more becomes the dominant urge and it disappears only as isolated pairs occupy their breeding territory. A natural assemblage of gregarious birds would thus conditute a flock. Upon careful analysis it would seem.that all species of this locality, except birds of prey, are gregraious at some season, and even turkey buzzards flock. However, in the natural round of events as the birds live from.season to season it is quite certain that the reasons for any given species flocking at a certain time may vary. Inasmuch as the observations for this thesis were made during the summer seasons, June 21 to September 21, our data concern birds flocking for different reasons, and some which are not in flocks at all during this period. There are several types of summer bird flocking in this locality. There are the before-nesting flocks of the Eastern Goldfinch (Spinus tristis tristis L.). These are of 58 course adult birds which soon will pair off and sekact breeding territory. In the same area and at the same time one may find the after-nesting flocks of the European Starling (Sturnus L.) composed of both adults and Juvenile birds. Their interest is in suitable loafing grounds, stocked with food. They wander by day over a much larger area than their individual breeding territory and often return to the same common roosting area at night. And then there are birds which normally would not be flocking at this time of year, but which are called together by a special food supply and which flock to that area as long as that particular food supply lasts. I refer in partichlar ha the annual feeding on the small fruits, to iiich additional reference is given under the species most concerned. The Black Tern presents an interesting flock habit to any invader of the marsh. As soon as a person appears a few sharp cries by some nearby adult may bring as high as fifty birds into the air overhead with some even darting at the intruder. The birds wheel around and follow as you cross the marsh. As one leaves they slowly start feeding and soon only a few birds are observed. The total number of nests present is not as great as the Tern flock would indicate. Other species that are gregarious to the extent of breeding together in this locality include the Bank Swallows which find suitable nesting sites near Gull Lake. Purple Martins make free use of the houses provided for them at the Sanctuary, and the Great Blue Heron is still feeding 39 young in the nest after June 21 along the Kalamazoo River. It might also be said that the English Sparrow is engaged in gregarious nesting in old straw stacks and around the farm.buildings of this area; but there are no large nesting colonies such as one might find in the Tern and Gull nesting colonies on the rocky shores or sand islands of the Great Lakes. The Black Tern flocks described above are our nearest approach to this. Suitable habitats may bring in large numbers of nesting pairs. Such pairs may still keep their unity. But when a suitable habitat brings in large numbers of a given species for food or loafing and the individuals of this area begin to act as a unit, we have a well defined flock, and it is to this type offlocking that most of the following qaecies are given. It is at this season of the year that large flocks of seed-eaters are seen in the grain fielis. Summer flocks of this type are referred to as bkackbirds. They are seldom pure but are mixed (1‘ Bronzed Grackles, Red-winged Blackbirds, Cow- birds, and often Starlings. They work first on the small grain and later on exposed tips of corn. In some years the Bobolink appears in numbers but during the period of this study was not common here. A study of these flocks indicate that while available grain is used to a large extent by such.birds, large concentrations of insects may also be found there. A cherry orchard or a strawberry patch offers food for a few days, and a large concentration of birds may appear if the wild fruits happen to be wanting. Large flocks near cultivated fruits are looked upon with disapproval by most people, but concentration to of weed seeds also bring the bird flocks, this time in a bene- ficial way, but perhaps passing unnoticed as far as man in concerned. Flécking to Small Fruits. The presence of an abundant food supply often attracts large numbers of birds of certain species. Such foods occur at certain seasons of the year, whether of wild or cultivated crops. Good examples are cherries, mulberries, and strawberries, and to a lesser extent blackberries and raspberries. The following species were observed feeding on cherries: Blue Jay Rebin Starling Bronzed Grackle Cedar Waxwing English Sparrow Red-headed Woodpecker Catbird The above were observed for one hour each day beginning on June 29 and extending to July 5, inclusive. The cherries were sour and the three trees were located in a typical farmyard habitat for this region. The time was from four o'clock to five p. m. (Table V) The following species were observed feeding on mulberries at the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary: hl Fig. XI Chart Showing Flocking Activities in Summer June 21 to September 10 The following species were observed in family groups only.* June July August September Pied-billed Grebe .............. Eastern Bob-white ---------- ,_ Ring-necked Pheasant .......... Florida Gallinule .......... Eastern Bluebird ............... Cedar Waxwing .............. Baltimore Oriole .............. Eastern Cardinal .............. The following were observed in family groups and in larger flocks. June July August September Canada Goose - - - - ................... Mallard Black Duck ......................... Blue-winged Teal ............ Killdeer - Black Tern - Eastern Mourning Dove - Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Eastern Robin Eastern Redwing ........................... Bronzed Grackle ........................... Starling - - ....................... English Sparrow ........................... Eastern Goldfinch ---------- nesting ........ ...... Family groups ........... Larger flocks * Immature birds following adults or observed being fed by adults are here considered as family groups. Fig. XII Wheat Stubble Habitat "'H . ' (’5') 2‘"th ., I . ‘ ' .' .'(II ""c r ' ~ 19‘ 7‘ . .. " L. M " .‘ ‘ j ,e " . "6‘ ‘3‘ ‘ .‘ i") ‘ . , ' The cutting of hay and grain creates an entirely new habitat. English Sparrows, Mourning Doves, and Starlings all flock to fields of this type for insects as well as the grain left by the binder. Photograph.by the author at the Kellogg Farm on July 6, 1958. to Table V Summer Flocking to Fruit Habitat (Cherries) W. K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary 1958 June June July July July July July Species 29 5o 1 2 5 h 5 Total for . 7 Hours Blue Jay 17 7 11 5 11 7 2 58 Robin h 18 12 10 1h 17 1 78 Starling 5 5 1 5 o 5 56 55 Bronzed 2 7 O 2 5 5 O 19 Grackle Cedar Waxwing 2 0 O O O 0 0 2 English 1 5 2 2 2 5 0 l5 Sparrow . Red-headed l O l O O O O 2 Woodpecker Catbird O O 1 O O O O 1 Total No. Bird Trips Per Day 50 Lo 28 22 5o 57 50 On July 2, two Goldfinches remained in the tree for five minutes but did not feed. All listed above picked at or ate the cherries. ! uh Table VI Summer Flocking to Fruit Habitat (Mulberries) W. K. Kellog Bird Sanctuary 19 0 1:00- 2:00- 5:00- haOO- 5:00- 6:00- Species 1:50 2:50 5:50 h:50 5:50 6:50 Total for Afternoon Rubin 10 6 6 7 5 5 37 Starling 5 7 5 6 2 h 29 Bronzed Grackle O O O 1 1 O 2 Cedar Waxwing l O O O O O 1 English Sparrow 5 2 6 2 0 1 it Did not feed at any time Red-headed Wood- 1 0 2 1 0 0 h pecker Catbird 2 l 5 O 2 1 9 Baltimore Oriole 2 1 h 5 2 2 1h Brown Thrasher l O l l O O 5 Kingbird O O 2 O O O 2 Eastern Goldfinch 1 O O O l O 2 Total No. Bird Trips Per Half- 26 17 29 21 11 15 117 Hour All species listed above ate fruit or carried it away exspt the English Sparrow. 1:5 Robin Starling English Sparrow Cedar Waxwing Red-headed Woodpecker Catbird Baltimore Oriole Brown Thrasher Kingbird Bronzed Grackle This observation was made on the afternoon of July 22 during alternate half-hour periods, beginning at 1:00 p. m. and ending at 6:50 p. m. There were 17 mulberry trees about 10 feet high. The Eitimore Orioles seemed to prefer the white mulberries. There was no preference shown 'by the other birds. A female Eastern Goldfinch ate one mulberry at 1:15. A male fed for 2 minutes at 5:05. No other species were observed. (Table VI) Artificial Islands at Wintergeen Lake. The swans build nesting islands Just off the shore which later are taken over by small flocks of loafing ducks. In a few places man-made channels have been opened and debris heaped to form.a small island. These are occupied in early spring by non-breeding blacks and mallards, later in the summa‘ by family groups of young ducks, and a:casidnally Black Terns or some of the numerous shore birds. [i6 Beaches at Wintergreen Lake. A sandy beach with clearings through the shrub zone and grass stretches interspaced with the open sand are favorite flocking habitats of many shore birds and most of the waterfowl. The Killdeer, which most people associate with a dry upland field, brings its family group to the beach and may be found there after early July until migration. Bronzed Grackles and Eastern Redwings, not to mention Starlings, stop in small flocks for food and water. I have occasionally seen immature Baltimore Orioles in groups of two and three birds stop on the beach to drink. Later in the summer, as the migration flocks begin more definite movement, the beach is an open area offering food and some safety from enemies. 1:7 Fig. XIII Check List of Birds Observed in Summer Flocks (Arranged in.the order of the Check List of the Birds 2; Michigan, by Dr. J. Van Tyne.) 1. 2. 5. h. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 15. 15. l6. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. Podilymbus podiceps podiaps (Linnaeus) Branta canadensis canadensis (Linnaeus) Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos Linnaeus Anas rubripes Brewster Colinus virginianus virginianus (Linnaeus) Phasianus colchicus torquatus Gmelin Charadrius vociferus vociferus Linnaeus Chlidonias nigra surinamensis (Gmelin) Zenaidura macroura carolinensis (Linnaeus) Iridoprocne bicolor (Vieillot) Riparia riparia riparia (Linnaeus) Stelgidopteryx ruficollos serripennis (Audubon) Hirundo rustica erythrogaster Boddaert Pied-billed Grebe Canada Goose Mallard Black Duck Eastern Bob-white Ring-necked Pheasant Killdeer Black Tern Eastern Mourning Dove Tree Swallow Bank Swallow Rough-winged Swallow Barn Swallow Petrochelidon albifrons albifrons (Rafinesque) Northern Cliff Progne subis subis (Linnaeus) Corvus corona brachyrhynchos Brehm Turdus migratorius migratorius Linnaeus Sialia sialis-sialis (Linnaeus) Bombycilla cedrorum.Vieillot Sturnus vulgaris vulgaris Linnaeus Passer domesticus domesticus (Linnaeus) Swallow Purple Martin Eastern Crow Eastern Robin Eastern Bluebird cedar waxwing Starling English Sparrow 22. 25 . 2b,. 25 . 26. 27. 28. u8 Dolichonyx oryzivorus (Linnaeus) Bebolink Agelaius phoeniceus phoeniceus (Linnaeus) Eastern Redwing Icterus galbula (Linnaeus) Baltimore Oriole Quiscalus quiscula aeneus Ridgway Bronzed Grackle Molothrus ater ater (Boddaert) Eastern Cowbird Richmondena cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus) Eastern Cardinal Spinus tristis tristis (Linnaeus) Eastern Goldfinch 119 Part IV SPECIES DATA ON NESTING-AND FLOCKING (The following accounts are arranged in the order of the Chbck List of Michigan Birds by Dr. Josselyn Van Tyne (1958)). PIED-BILLED GREBE Podilymbus podiceps podiceps (Linnaeus) The nesting of this bird is restricted to the ponds and swales of the area. The nest, located in from.one to three feet of water, consists of a heap of reeds partially decayed and mattedxiown.with perhaps some coarse sedgy grasses. Most of the nesting material is below the surface and a shallow depression contains the eggs. I Observed successful nesting at the Augusta pond in July, 1958. A nest containing one egg was located on July 10. On July 20 the nest was empty, but an adult and four young were observed. The first nest seems to have been an earlier attempt and the nest from filich the four young came was not discovered. Myrtle Powers also reports (ms) adults and five young on August 5 of the same year. Her report says, "The young were only a day or so old and.were being fed by the adults from.the bottom of the pond. It was several days before the young grebes could feed themselves.” August broods of young birds were also observed by Miss Powers and myself 50 at Pond Lily Lake. The young were very hard to observe in the heavy vegetation.which covers most of the surface of this lake. Dr. Pirnie reports evidence of successful nesting at Wintergreen Lake during the summer months. He observed a young bird about half-grown on August 18, 1957 and two adults and two young during the week of June 20, 1958. Several family groups may feed and loaf together during August and September, in the area where they were produced. As soon as the young are able to fly they seem to leave, perhaps to the larger lakes. GREAT BLUE HERON Ardea herodias herodias (Linnaeus) These birds nest each year in a colony of to or more nests, just west of Augusta, in the woods along the Kalamazoo River. As many as 6 or 8 nests are sometimes placed in.a single tree. Within.this colony there seems to be but one nesting cycle and this is without doubt over by the middle of August. A few young birds may still be found around the nests on August 1, but by August 12, 1959, the tins of the last visit, there was only one young bird that seemed too immature to fly. There was no evidence of nesting repair, or what appeared to be a late brood after July 20. The Heron is regarded as a solitary bird and is often seen alone. Except at nesting, more than one bird is Fig. XIV Blue Heron Nesting Site Nests of the Great Blue Heron, high in a tree along the Kalamazoo River. The young birds were able to fly and all nesting activities were over for the summer. Photograph taken August 10, 1959- 51 52 seldom seen at a time in.the area studied. During the breeding season, however, it lives in communities often of considerable size. After the young are able to fly in August, there is a return to the nesting area each evening for roosting and it is my belief that this roosting flock is the basis for the flock that will migrate. Numerous young birds are seen along the river at the same time. Forbush says, "The Herons fly occasionally in companies and sometimes in large flocks, and in the autumnal migration I have seen from 10 to 20 feeding together." The Great Blue Heron is not observed in numbers away from its nesting grounds in.this area. Dr. Pirnie mentions three in the sky at one time on August 1, 19h0, over the W. K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary, and 20 feeding about Wintergreen Lake on July 15, l9hl.: Over a period of several years the writer has observed small groups of three and four as they were going from.their nesting grounds to numerous lakes in Barry County. However, the absence of any tendency to form flocks at other than the nesting area is a definite characteristic of this bird. EASTERN GREEN HERON Butorides virescens virescens (Linnaeus) This bird is a common spring nester of this area. For the summer period eight nests have been located in.the five years of the study. They are reported nesting in the 53 local swales that contain water and some shrubs. Strips of willow have been left at the W. K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary swales and have been much used for summer nesting. The nests are placed from.three to five feet high among rather slander branches. An occasional pair also nests in the Buttonbush much nearer to the water. They nest sometimes in May when the lack of sufficient cover in the lowlands perhaps accounts for early nesting on the higher land in confers. One early spring nest seems interesting enough to include here, even if it did not happen in the period of this study. The W. K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary reports a nest in the Scotch Pine (Pinus sylvestris) Just to the north of Winter- green Lake on May 19, 1958. The nest was located about 15 feet from the ground in a dense Scotch Pine thicket, at some distance from.the usual Willow Swale where later nests were found. One June 22, 1957, Dr. M. D. Pirnie and a group of summer school students found a nest in willows at the swale. Three young were produced. An earlier nest for l9h0 is reported by Eldon Whitman on June 15, but no other data was given. These represent some of the earlier dates, but nesting for this species continues well into summer as is indicated by the following records: One nest which I examined at the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary contained five eggs on July 8, 1958. Another nest which I did not locate produced young that were observed with the adult on August 12, 1958, in the same Fig. XV Green Heron Nesting An adult Green Heron stands on guard in the willows near her nest. 5h 55 Fig. XVI A Green Heron Nest in the Willows Green Herons a few days old in the nest at the Q west swale. Photograph by Dr. M. D. Pirnie. DO swale. According to their size the young must have left their nest within the previous week. Banded birds were observed for several days about the nest, but the adults were never observed to feed them.and they soon shifted for themselves. The grouping here is even more loose than is reported by Todd in 22282.22 Western Pennsylvania. He states, "During August and September it is a common sight to see family groups, old and young together, stalking along the margin of the river beaches or wading leisurely about in the still pools common along the courses of our smaller streams." AMERICAN BITTERN Botaurus lentiginosus lentiginosus (Montagu) We find this bird common in the wet Cattail and Bur-reed swamps. The nest is a rude, flat structure of dead cattails, rushes, flags, or any other material at hand. It is raised only a few inches above the general level of the marsh, and is more or less screened fran view by the surrounding vegetation. I There is no record of eggs after the last week of June, but young birds are common in or near the nests in early July, an average of one brood each year still in the nest being located. On July 29, 1958, several immature birds were observed in the marsh at Pond Lily Lake. Six older birds were seen in the air after four were known to have left. 57 The young birds would.allow one to approach within four feet. Miss Powers reports a nest in a field of hay on July 10, l9h0,hut gives no data regarding eggs or outcome of nesting. There is some flocking of old birds to good feeding habitats. Later in the summer young birds also begin to appear and mixed groups of adults and young continued to feedut the following July nesting dates were recorded by C. J. Henry (1952) for the W. K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary in a study of bird houses: Four young banded June 21, 1952. Left the nest four days later. Five young left the nest July 5, 1952. 07 Five young left the nest July 6, 1952. Three young left the nest July 50, 1952. No other data were given and no other records were available for this species. EASTERN KINGBIRD Tyrannus tyrannus (Linnaeus ) The Kingbird is one of our largest and best-known flycatchers, universally distributed throughout the state in summer, and nesting freely along our highways and streams or lake shores. It is almost "aquatic" in its nesting habits, as the nests are often placed in stumps projecting out of the water, and at a distance from the shore. Fresh eggs are likely to be found in this area during the first week in June, although many are not laid until the middle of the month. Not infrequently nests with eggs or young are found in July, possibly indicating a second brood, but it seems likely that these are mostly the nests of birds who have been unsuccessful in.their first attempts. The mortality rate was high for the birds under my _ obsenation. Half-grown birds were removed from nests which it would seem predators could have reached only by air. As an example, the nest at the top of the post emerging from three feet of water had.four young on July 5, 1957, and all were destroyed by July 11. The loss was discovered in.the morning, but there was no evidence as to the nature of the invader. 70 Fig. XX The Eastern Kingbird A Kingbird nest in the top of a hollow fence post. The post was standing in two feet of water and in an open willow thicket. This nesting site is typical for the Kingbird. The bird was incubating eggs on July 18, 1957, when.the above picture was taken. 71 On July 19, 1957, a nest in a larch, hanging low over the water at Hamilton Lake, contained two eggs. The nest was completed and young birds were observed to leave by Lee Jickling, owner of the property. On the same date, one year later, a nest of almost identical condition was found at Augusta Pond. The fork formed by a dead tree extended out over the water and served as the support for the nest. A fence post in three feet of wder and with a concave top contained three young birds on July 20, 1937. Two days later birds and nest were destroyed. The last nest observed was found on July 2h, 1959. Like the others, it was in a dead bush only two feet above the water. It con- tined three young when found, but later nest and young were all destroyed. Two other nests were reported by Miss Powers for the summer period, but without data. NORTHERN CRESTED FLYCATCHER Myiarchus crinitus boreus (Bangs) This species is a common bird in.the upland woods. No nests were located in.the natural habitat, but the birds occasionally came to the nest boxes prepared for them and Flickers at the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary. Among such nestings are: A Flicker house located 15 feet up in a red oak at 72 Fig. XXI A Sumner Home of the Crested Flycatcher The Crested Flycatcher (makes frequent use of the houses. This box was intendedfor Flickers, but made the Flycatchers a geod home among this common elder thicket at the south shore of Winter- green Lake . 73 the south shore of Wintergreen Lake. The adults were feeding young on July 10, 1959. A hollow log set up for a Wood Duck was taken over and young birds were found there the second week of July, 19h0. This "house" was located in an open pond and the nest opening was about three and one-half feet above the water. A hollow log house designed for Flickers (the nest opening located about eight feet high) at the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary swale, produced young during the first days of July, 1958. A white oak stub in the woods at the north side of Wintergreen Lake was used by Flickers in 1959. A Screech Owl nested there in April of 19h0, and later in July of the same year a pair of Crested Flycatchers occupied the same holes. No family groups were observed and no summer flocks are reported for this species. ALDER FLYCATCHER Empidonax trailli trailli (Audubon) In Michigan.the Alder Flycatcher appears to be generally distributed and is very common in Kalamazoo County, and in.the area under observation. In its nesting habits it differs markedly from all the other small flycatchers in building a sanewhat bulky, very compact, deeply hollowed nest, seldom.st a height of more than six feet from.the 71L grOund, often as low as two feet.- These nests are almost invariably placed in upright forks of slender bushes and usually in very wet ground, not infrequently in standing water or at the very edges of streams. Eggs may be located in the nests by the middle of June until the middle of July. I have no records of eggs in the nest in July, but feel sure that this does happen. A nest at the Kellogg Forestry Trace had eggs on June 18, 1959, and young birds on July 20. Of the nine nests observed or reported to me all were in late June or very early July and contained young birds rather than eggs. There is not a great deal of data on this species and much additional work can be done in this area. The bird seems to become very shy after nesting as mixed or family groups are seldom seen. EASTERN WOOD PEWEE Myiochanes virens (Linnaeus) Only a few Observations were made on.this species, but occasional pairs are still nesting, or at least feeding young in early July. The nests are restricted to the larger trees of the upland and because of their position are very difficult to photograph or make observations of. A pair of adults were feeding young in a nest high up in a white oak on the south shore of Wintergreen Lake on July 16, 1959, and at another location were Observed feeding 75 young on July 9 and again on July 1h. The fmlily groups were not observed after they left the nest but the nesting attempt appears to have been successful. THE SWALLOWS TREE SWALLOW Iridoprocne bicolor (Vieillot) BANK SWALLOW Riparia riparia riparia (Linnaeus) ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW Stelgidopteryx ruficollos serripennis (Audubon) BARN SWALLOW 'Hirundo rustica erythrogaster (Boddaert) NORTHERN CLIFF SWALLOW Petrochelidon albifrons albifrons (Rafinesque) The Tree Swallow nests in boxes prepared especially for it at the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary. There are several boxes at the waterfront as well as on higher land which are used some years and then next year are taken over by some other species. The nest is commonly of a few feathers picked up around the grounds. Ann occasional nest may run into early July, but most of the young are out in June. Henry reports 10 young in two nests ready to fly on June 21, 1952. The gathering of Swallows, usually in mixed flocks, after nesting and during migration, is well known. The power and telephone lines make convenient perches and in some way the birds seem to know where the flocks are to gather. The following example is typical of the birds studied. On July 1, 1956, a family of Tree Swallows was observed on the wires of the power line about one and one- half miles east of the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary. Each day a similar number was Observed until by July 12 there were 52. On July l6the number was down to 11, but a check on July 22 found a flock of 62 birds. The flock was slowly growing larger or being replaced. What started as a family group was to be a flock for migration. The mixed flocks of swallows at the Court School, east of Bedford, is well known locally. In 1955 and 1956 they gathered there by the thousands. Power lines along the road would be almost filled for a distance of two or three miles. The Tree and Earn Swallows were present in largest numbers, but Bank and Roughewinged Swallows were also there. In 1957, less than 50 birds were observed at this area in the entire summer. An attempt was made to find them even several miles away, but they were not located. In 1958 and 1959, the numbers went back to perhaps 500 birds a year andizhe concentration seems to be building up again. The Northern Cliff Swallow was observed on the power wires at the Kellogg School on July 21, 1958. The 77 Fig. XXII The Flocking of Swallows The above picture illustrates the flocking of Swallows as described in the text. Sometimes the wires for miles in a given area will appear like the above print. While the above are largely Bank Swallows, the flocks are always mixed to some extent. Photograph by Dr. M. D. Pirnie. 78 7 birds were observed at close range for over 50 minutes from.a window on the second floor. Fieli glasses were used and ample time to study a bird book was taken. 50 years ago they were reported to have been common, but this is the only recent observation I have been able to note. PURPLE MARTIN Progne subis subis (Linnaeus) Several pairs nest in the four Martin houses that are available at the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary. Very little banding of this species has been.done and observations have been carried out at a distance for fear of disturbing the nesting pairs. The Martin "scouts" arrive at the W. K. Kellogg Sanctuary in May and nesting is well under way with smne young birds in the boxes by the opening of the summer season (June 21). Young birds may be seen at the openings of the nesting boxes begging for food in early July. A few immature birds take short flights by the middle of‘the month and both young and adults fly about freely in late July and early August. The colony manner of nesting and feeding makes flocking natural for the Martins. Groups of 8 and 10 are often seen flying high in the air. They are among the last birds to roost in the evening and first out in the morning. They return to the home nest each evening at first, but later 79 Fig. XXIII Purple Martin O Young Purple Martins flying and feeding about a house at the W. K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary. This picture, taken on August 10, 19h0, shows the young fully ready to leave the area. They will be replaced from.time to time by small flocks of "tourists", until mdgration takes all the birds from the area. Photograph by Dr. M. D. Pirnie. 80 may stay away overnight. By the second week of August, the flock is thinning out. Both adult and young birds appear to be Joining with other family groups to form.the flocks of migration. By August 15, in this area, these migration ‘flocks are on the move from place to place. They travel rather slowly and there is only random observation of their activities. Mr. J. W. G. Dunn, of Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota, has a photograph of a flock of over 600 Purple Martins taken on August 11, 1958. They spent the night in a number of dead oak trees and were gone the next morning. On August 26, l9h0, a flock that would number well over a thousand birds was observed by the author in central Kentucky. They were observed at h:00 o'clock p. m. and continued to move slowly south-west, and were all gone in two hounk EASTERN CROW Corvus corone brachyrhynchos (Brehm) No nests of the crow were found during the period of study after the last of June. Crow nesting is early and the flocking habit starts before mid-summer. This bird often selects a common roosting ground from which Whey disperse in the morning and to ahich they return at night. 81 Watching along the edge of a woods in the evening one can often see 100 or more as they string along a few at a time, but always in the same direction. Such a flight parallels M-78 Just south of Charlotte, and has been observed each year for the last five years. The crow does not migrate very far south and the size of roosts increases as one goes toward northern Indiana or Illinois. The birds quite frequently use the timber in the Kellogg Forestry Tract, the woods by the long swale, and the pines around Wintergreen Lake, both for nesting in spring and loafing grounds in summer. To my knowledge there is no well established roost in the area studied OHIO HOUSE WREN Troglodytes aedon baldwini Oberholser There are many Wren houses located about the area, as well as natural cavities suited to their needs. These are used freely in the early summer, and several.renestings or second broods were recorded in late summer. I found an average of 17 for two summers' observations. The bird may use a small house well suited to its needs, or it may fill a Flicker or Tree Swallow house full of nesting material before the eggs are laid. The extra nests built by the md.e are sometimes interesting. I collected one which contained an assortment of fine wire and small nails. 82 In the case of a house built for Screech Owls, the wren nest measured 12 inches from the top to bottom and was built entirely of dead twigs from the Spruce. At the W. K. Kellogg Forestry Tract, a good number of Wren houses have been placed on posts about the area. In early July these are still in use, and as a rule contain young birds. Up in the woods, several natural cavities are used. A cavity used by Flickers in 1958 was used by a pair of Wrens in.the summer of 1959. The work of the Baldwin Laboratories at Gates Mills, Ohio, is well known to students of ornithology. (Baldwin, Bowen, Wedgewood) (1927) In this study, summer nesting by this species was definitely established and second broods extending into July were found to be common. A visit to Gates Mills by the author during the last week of July, l9h0, found the work completely at a standstill due to the death of Mr. Baldwin. Both in.the Forestry Tract and at the Sanctuary, the singing males are much in evidence during the incubation period but as the young leave the nest there is very little evidence of the family groups and they are not seen in late summer or fall flocks. CATBIRD Dumetella carolinensis (Linnaeus) This bird is common in.the thickets bordering the roads and fields. Most of its nesting is brought to 83 a close in June, but there are occasional records of early July nests. I have a record of h nests between June 20 and June 50, with 10 eggs and about a 50 percent survival. No nest containing eggs was found in July, although there must be some during the first week. A family group was observed east of Wintergreen Lake on July 16, 1958. The adults were busy feeding and the young were Just out of the nest. This is a rather late record for this species. Three young in a nest on July 17, 1958, were gone on July 29. The nest, located about 6% feet high in an elderberry bush in.the shrub zone at the west of Wintergreen lake, is typical for this species. The family groups were observed for only a few days and there was no evidence of flocking. EASTERN ROBIN Turdus migratorius migratorius (Linnaeus) The robin nests all over the area from near the ground in the pines at the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary to as high as 50 feet up in the large trees on the Kellogg Forestry Tract. In all, 50 nests were observed during the time of the study. Most of the young are out of the nest by the second week of July, but my observations include several nestings in July or August. 8A On August 22, a RObin nest was blown from a small apple tree during a very severe electric storm. One bird, smaller than the rest, was dead. On August 2L, another storm brought the nest down again. One Robin was very weak and died during the night. By the following day (August 25) the last bird fell from the nest and was caught by a dog. The adults were loyal even the next day and tried to find the young birds as they'carried food about. Another nest was built about August 1 and contained 5 eggs when checked on August 10. All hatched,but the heavy rain of August 21 washed almost all the mud from.the nest. The first bird hatched on the 16th and was always larger. The other two (hatched August 17 and 18) only lived three days, but their growth was very rapid and they always showed age difference. Nine other nests in July contained a total of 25 eggs, of which 19 hatched. The robin does not flock in the same sense that other birds do, but is attracted to a habitat or a food supply rather than Just roaming the country in.organized groups. Feeding on the lawns, especially where sprinklers are in use, is a very common summer Observation. Flocking to small fruits is well known and has already been discussed. Flocks in alfalfa fields were also noticed several times. The time of day flocking is observed is also interesting. RObin flocks, being seen and reported most often in the early afternoon to as late as four o'clock. Flocking to a roost is well known, although no organized Robin roost was observed in this area during the period of study. EASTERN BLUEBIRD Sialia sialis sialis (Linnaeus) This is one species in which second broods for an individual pair was definitely observed. A pair of Bluebirds was observed to raise two broods in 1958. A house painted a bright red was occupied in May and produced a brood of young in June. The reason for mentioning this record here is that the same pair moved 50 feet away to a house painted a bright blue and completed another nesting with the young out of the box on July 12. I point this out as a good example of a species producing a second brood in the summer. There are no records at the Sanctuary of broods being produced in June, but all came in May or July. They do have late broods, however, because a family of young birds Just able to fly was observed on the bank of the Kalamazoo River near Augusta as late as August 12, 1958. In all,26 nests were observed, but at no time during the summer was there evidence of flocking beyond fmnily groups. 86 CEDAR WAXWING Bombycilla cedrorum Vieillot A total of six nests were observed and the Waxwing seems to be a consistant summer nester for this section of Michigan . A nest containing four eggs was found on August 16, 1958. It was about seven feet up in a five-way fork of hawthorn on.the Forestry Tract. When I visited it on August 25 the four young birds were about half-grown. They were due to leave the first week of September, but no check was made at that time. An earlier record was Observed as I wrote this report. A female was found on four eggs on July 12, 19h0. Her nest had been built in an apple tree twelve feet up in a well developed fork. On July 29 the four young were several days old. Small family groups or mixed flocks roam.this area most of the summer. They were often observed around the small fruit habitat and might be seen roaming through the upland woods and meadows. STARLING Sturnus vulgaris vulgaris (Linnaeus) The Starling was introduced from England in 1890, the first birds being released in Central Park, New York City. 87' On Bird Lore's Christmas Bird Census ten years later, it was reported from three states and during the second decade (1910) the number advanced to eleven states. Walkinshaw (1928) says, "It was in December, 1927, that I first observed the Starling near Battle Creek . . . On December 26 a flock of about RS birds was observed . . . On June 10, 1928, the first two nests near Battle Creek were found, both in telephone poles along the roadside . . . In May, 1928, a Sterling's nest in the Methodist Church of Ann Arbor was reported to me." In the spring of 1951, I observed a small flock on the Kellogg Farm. Since that time hundreds have been observed feeding and roosting in this section. The nesting is rather early. Adult birds are often seen carrying nesting materials in late March. All of the nesting is over by late May or early June. I have no reports of even feeding young after the first week of June, although an occasional pair does perhaps nest this late. The plumage of the adult birds begins to molt soon after nesting and the characteristic brown of both Juvenile and adult is soon noticed. These brown birds gather in flocks and roam the fields by day and return to a common roost at night. Few starlings appear during the day. If one covers a few farms rather carefully, a few small flocks of to to 50 birds will be Observed. One here in the hay stubble feeding on insects, another back in the pasture around the cows and perhaps still another along the edge of the orchard and garden. They seem to roam almost everywhere. One seldom finds them off the ground and it is quite certain that their main concern is feeding. Toward evening the flocks will be more noticeable. They will be flying in compact groups, near the tops or even above the trees and seem to have a directness that indicates they know where they are going. Other flocks flying in a somewhat parallel course will join them until they may number several hundred. At times the flock will drop into a suitable habitat to feed, only to rise after a few minutes and continue. A few Grackles may Join them and on several occasions I have observed Redwings also. However, the latter soon went their way and do not seem.as much a part of the flock as do the Grackles. The larger flocks fly somewhat slower. On one occasion, when a flock of over 2,000 birds was observed and their place of roosting known, I was able to drive ho miles an hour and arrive well ahead of them. However, this flock was flying low, and when.they stay at a low elevation,t;hey travel rather slowly. They have a faster flight when they are higher in.the air. Then they fly very directly, and with considerable speed. The early flocks to arrive at a roost may be of the first type. They come in at a slow speed, cross the roosting 89 area several times and perhaps fly up to a mile away toenme tall trees. Here they sing and Shift about for several minutes. Other flocks go over. There may be an exchange of birds from one to the other. There is much singing of individuals until suddenly the group swings once more into the air. If it is already kite, they may fly rapidly to the roost. Instead of dropping in at an angle, however, they may fly directly over- head and then side slip in with much speed. The flock, as it comes in, flies with a rounded front and while the rear birds are apt to stray, the group flies as a compact unit. If they come in slowly and low to the ground the behavior is entirely different. There is no side-slipping and the birds fly directly to the place they intend to roost and settle down. This flock is apt to be alarmed several times before they are fixed for the night. A flock coming in may alarm one already there, then both fly away. It is very common for from.two to four thousand birds to roost in a small swale. They will begin to gather between 7:00 and 7:15 in July and the flight will be over between 8:15 to 8:50, often by 8:10. The later flocks seem to come in lower but with the same speed as those flying higher. One is impressed by the speed of the flocks, their ability to side slip and lose elevation, their ability to wheel together, and the set of the wings as some flocks glide in to the observation point or roost. 90 There are three genenfl types of habitats used as a roost by Starlings in this section: The Buttonbush Swale. Several swales containing water the year around and with a shrub zone of which the Buttonbush is a dominant species are favorite roosting spots. A stand of elms or oaks, at a short distance for an observation point, also seems to be a necessity, although in one case the birds have used the telephone wires as a substitute. The fact that the Buttonbush is slow to leaf-out in the spring seems to be a deciding factor in their starting a roost here. No buds had developed and there were no leaves on the twigs normally used. Large Shade Trees Along City Streets. Outside of the area under discussion, the birds use large shade trees in some of the local cities and towns. The behavior is about the same except that the tops of the large trees serve both as the observation point and as the final roosting place for the night. Buildings. Many public buildings are used by the birds in cold weather. The ventilators, and ledges and saves all serve as an ideal place to spend the night. In this area, vine-covered bricks as well as barns and silos serve as important roosting areas in.winter as well as in summer. Other RoostinggAreas. The adult birds roost in the white cedars in May. There is some summer roosting in.the pines at the Sanctuary. 91 Fig. XXIV A Starling Roost - Kellogg Bird Sanctuary Swale On.the evening of July 10, 1938, observations were made on Starling roosts. At 8:25 p.m. I started to drive around Wintergreen Lake. As the car was driven onto the bridge at the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary swale, several hundred Starlings came up to the top of the willows to see what it was. The camera was placed on the window of the car and a time exposure was taken. The result shows quite clearly the general arrangement of the Starling roost. The birds were slow to fly because of the fast- gathering darkness. 92 In one instance small flocks were seen in a clump of willows. Morninngispersal from.the Roost. The following is a description of a typical morning dispersal from the Buttonbush swale at Wintergreen Lake: July 15, 1958, was clear and at h:h6 a.m. a few clouds in the east were rose-tinted. While the light factor in my exposure meter was less than "5", the robin, catbird, and mourning doves were in full song. The edge of the roosts for 2,000 or more starlings were not 10 feet away but there was not a sound. At h:5o and at hz52 the flock shifted. It was as though one bird had moved and because of the crowbd condition they all had to move. At u:56 the English Sparrows in the Martin house came out one at a time and flew away. Two American Bitterns flew by and the Starlings shifted once more. There was now an occasional chirp and more shifting of individual birds. At 5:00 the chirping increases in volume and the semblance of a song results. At 5:10 1h grackles that were seen to go to roost in the willows the evening before left. After 5:00 a single, or not to exceed three starlings flew away. Every 50 seconds saw the loss of a few birds. There was much stretching of wings over back and preening of feathers and as birds crowded one another the flock continually shifted. The song and activity steadily increases. There are chirps and squawks and a rolling song common to grackle flocks in the fall. At 5:52 the rim of the sun came above the horizon, and 93 as the light increases there is much increase in singing and pushing, and instead of individual birds going out, there are now six, eight, or ten birds at 50 second intervals. At 5:h0 a flock of 500 arrives from a swale one-fourth mile away. They alight in the oaks nearby and then tumble and side slip into the swale where there is still little room. There is a steady stream.of three to five birds in the air at all times as the entire flock drops in and now there is a steady stream out also. five to ten'birds constantly in the air. At 5:50 another flock of about 100 arrives and try to alight with the others. The entire flock is disturbed and with a roar of wings they all take to the air. The sky is black for an instant as they arise and split into two groups, one going southwest and the other going southeast. Even as they leave, one can with field glasses see smaller units separating from the larger group. These are the small flocks going out once more to feed in the fields. At 5:55 there does not appear to be a single Starling anywhere around. Food of the Starling. The Starling at this season of the year seems to be highly'beneficial,as an analysis of its crop Shows almost 100 percent insects. Sometimes in July a flock will raid cultivated fruits, but Lindsey (1959)reports 9 percent on the cultivated as against 50 percent of the wild, the remainder being insects again. The author found similar figures in observations in the area. Fig. XXV Starling Flocking __.‘--_ A Starling flock over Wintergreen Lake in early evening. This is a loose formation that flies high and rather fast over the roost. Back sons distance the flocks are much more compact and often smaller in size. As they approach the roost they string out and some birds may even side slip out into the trees as shown on the left side of the print above. 95' Fig. XXVI Starlings Flocking A Starling flock at dusk, approaching the roosting site, flying high.and fast and in somewhat more compact a flock than shown in Fig. XXV. This picture, taken by Dr. M. D. Pirnie with a fast lens, shows the shape of the bird in flight. Note the "V“ shape of the wings and.the various positions. YELLOW-THROATED VIEEO Vireo flavifrons Vieillot Only one nest of this species was found on July 1, 1957. It was located about ten feet from the ground in an oak on the east side of Wintergreen Lake. One young bird was in the nest and later was seen taking short flights about the tree. A blind was built and several students took pictures of the adultfeeding. No other observations were made on this species. ENGLISH SPARROW Passer domesticus domesticus (Linnaeus) The English Sparrow is a common and persistent nesting species in this area, at least 110 nests per year being observed. At the Bird Sanctuary it nests in the colony Martin houses, in the single room houses put out for Tree Sparrows, Flickers, and other beneficial song birds, and under the eaves of'buildings. Most of the nesting is over by July 15, but there may be waves of renesting at quite regular intervals up to the second week of September. A good example of this was observed when the Martins left in late July. (A Martin nest that has produced young does not occupy much space in.the nest box and hence there is plenty of room.for an English Sparrow nest.) After the Martins had been gone two weeks, a check was made of the four colony houses, and out of 6h possible nest sites, there were 97 61 in use by the English Sparrows. This material removed filled six bushel baskets! There were 60 eggs in various stages of incubation and 29 young birds. The young birds were some that had hatched while the Martins were present in some compartments, and the eggs represented the new nests. The eggs were "blown" and the embryo was well developed only in two instances. Two weeks later there were four fully built nests containing eggs, and thirteen nests about half-built. These contained eight fresh eggs. This indicates that some pairs still insisted on nesting even as late as August 25. There was much evidence of roosting in all houses and the presence of large feathers would seem to indicate that a molt was beginning in some of the birds. In many places it is common to find English Sparrows nesting in trees, but that is not the case on the area studied. This may in part be due to the many artificial advantages offered in the way of nesting boxes. Bennett reports ten nests after July 20. (1959) The flocking of this species comes after the nesting period, although small flocks of non-breeding birds may be seen even at nesting time. Small flocks are beginning to form by mid-summer. There are to a large extent juvenile birds. They gather on the edges of the grain fields and around the farm.and Sanctuary buildings. As many of the adults continue to nest right through to the last week of 98 August (some into September), there is but a slow increase of adults. The flocks average less than 100 until severe weather causes an increase around concentrations of food, to be found largely around farm.buildings. The birds spend the days feeding as they roam.slowly about. At night they often congregate around the barns or in a vine-covered building where they remain as long as the leaves remain on the vines. After that they turn to stawstacks, barns, and dense trees for shelter in winter. With the return of spring, most of the birds seek mates and take over nesting territory. A few small flocks are still seen (R. L. Weaver) (1959), these are believed to be some of the first-year birds that did not nest the first season. My observations on‘broods and flocks agrees with E. R. Kalmbark (l9h0), who states: "Three or four broods a year are not infrequent, and under favorable climatic and food conditions an even greater number may be brought forth." EASTERN MEADOWLARK Sturnella magna magna (Linnaeus) This bird was very common in the upland meadows. Several were observed in the fields near the school. On several occasions they were noticed singing from near the road around the Sanctuary. Two nests were located, one on June 22, 1958, and the other on June 26, 1959. They were of the usual 99 type at the base of a tuft of grass. Both were promptly destroyed. Small fmnily groups of young birds were seen at regular intervals, but there was little adult flocking. EASTERN REDWING Agelaius phoeniceus phoeniceus (Linnaeus) Early May finds this bird beginning to select nesting territory. By June 1 most of the nests contain eggs, but a few are hatching and by June 20 many of the first brood are on the wing. In the five-year period, thirty nests were observed that were in the summer season. On several obser- vations at the swale, all of the young were out of the nest on June 25, but some were found that could fly only a few feet. Only one female was seen carrying nesting material after June 25 and she did not complete the nest. As time goes on it becomes more and more evident that the daytime population of the swale is less. The birds are gone by day but return to roost at night. After the first hot days of July there is also a decrease in song. Nestingrsite: The nests are sometimes placed in the white cedar but more often in the forked branches of the Buttonbush in from one to two feet of water. The nest is common in cattails where they appear, but at the Sanctuary another choice of nesting must be made. 100 Feeding. I have seen a male Redwing feeding young pursue and capture a dragon fly. Boosting. The Redwing is the only bird I have observed roosting in the spatterdock. It is also interesting to note that the two sexes do not roost together. The females and young birds may be observed entering the spatterdock and at another time and place a small group of males. By July 10 most of the nesting of the Redwing is over. The birds leave the swale each morning and return in the evening. A fGW'Of the male birds may sing, but as a rule they arrive and depart in small flocks made up of males or the females and the young. The flight in to the lake starts at about 7:50 and continues to 8:50. A few nest in the shrubs along the swales but most of‘the Redwings seem to prefer the spatterdock. The later flocks are almost all females and immature birds, while the adult males are among the first to arrive. The birds are seen feeding along the drives and in the fields during the day. By the middle of August the flocks seen are much larger and may be somewhat mixed with Grackles. On a few occasions, Redwings were seen with Starlings. After molting in the larger marshes the flocks are again seen feeding for a few weeks before migration. 101 BALTIMORE ORI OLE Icterus galbula (Linnaeus) On June 22, a pair was observed feeding young in a nest located thirty feet up in a Ncrway Spruce. The nest was on.a lateral limb two-thirds of the way out from the trunk and very heavily surrounded by foliage. Young birds were commonly seen around Wintergreen Lake and the above date no doubt represents the late nesting for this species. There were no records of nesting after the first of July in this area. Young'birds were seen in July at the Kellogg estate and along the shore of Wintergreen Lake. There were never more than two or three and flocking is not common until migration. BRONZED GRACKLE Quiscalus quiscula aeneus Ridgway The Bronzed Grackle is another early nesting species in relation to the summer season. The nests are reported common in May in the pines around the Sanctuary and later in the Buttonbush swale. They build about three or four feet from.the ground in the forked branches. A few young birds are still to be found in the nest by June 50, but a greater percent of the nests are empty by this date and an.increasing flbck of young birds may be found in.the nearby woods. Flocks of ten to twenty are common by the first of July. They come in to the swale each evening and spend the night in the tall shrubs along the shore. A few flockwith the Starlings. All birds observed at the Sanctuary were in the early morning or evening, showing the tendency to return at night from grain fields. An occasional small flock or indi- vidual bird could be found feeding along the bordering fields, but the evening flocking was at the lake front or in the swale. EASTERN COWBIRD Molothrus ater ater (Boddaert) The Eastern Cowbird is aczommon bird in the area studied and is parasitic upon many other species. The peak of its nesting is reached in May with.that of the Eastern Yellow Warbler. However, the Cowbird is a persistent nesting species until August, selecting the nests of the Alder Fly- catcher, Indigo Bunting, Chipping, Field, and Song Sparrows as well as occasionally others. There are several records of Cowbird feeding by Chipping and Song Sparrows in July and early August and a Cowbird egg was laid in an Indigo Bunting nest on August 12, 1937. Ed. Graper removed all the Cowbird eggs from the nests he studied in the July and August period, and reports a high survival of‘rightful occupants. 103 Fig. XXVII One Cowbird Egg in a Chipping Sparrow Nest The Cowbird often selects a Chipping Sparrow nest in which to place its egg. The nest was located two feet up in a small Spruce on the east shore of Wintergreen Lake. On July 15, 1957, this nest contained 1 Cowbird egg and 5 of the rightful owner. All eggs hatched, but the young birds were destroyed while still young 0 10h W. R. Cardwell found Cowbird eggs in both the Chipping and Field Sparrow nests during July and August, but gives no dates a: figures. As soon as the young Cowbirds are able to shift for themselves, they desert their foster parents and Join others of their own kind. These small flocks of young and adults roam and feed about the countryside, never for very long in one place. There was no evidence at this time of year that they tended to flock with other birds or that they have a special place to roost. EASTERN CARDINAL Richmondena cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus) There are seven records of the Cardinal nesting in July and August for this area. An interesting record is of a pair that nested by the west shore of Wintergreen Lake in a grape vine about four feet from the ground. The pair were banded but were not captured so no number was obtained. Two young 1e ft the nest about August 26, 1937. The following August 17, 1958, a female bird in good condition but with a marked body molt was taken in a sparrow trap. Her band number was noted and after release she was observed fer severalciays around the trap. On August 22 a male was captured and on the same day it was discovered that they had a nest twelve feet up in the same grape vine that a banded 105 pair used the year before. One would like to conclude that it was the same pair. They had two eggs on August 22, 1958, and a check on September 12 found the nest in good condition but empty. It is well known that the Cardinal flocks in fall and winter but there was no evidence of such flocking during the summer in this area. INDIGO BUNTING Passerina cyanea (Linnaeus) The Indigo Bunting arrives in this area in late spring. July nests must occur, although I have no records. Two August records were followed through the complete nesting cycle. The first nest, located on August 11, 1957, contained three eggs and one young bird. On the following day a Cowbird egg had been added. The nest was located two feet up in a Gray Dogwood at the Forestry Tract. The young bird disappeared after three days and the adults deserted. The next nest was in the lowland on the bank of Augusta Creek. It was in a Red-osier Dogwood, two feet from the ground and surrounded by weeds, grasses, and sedge. The nest was entirely made of grasses. The female was incubating three eggs as the nest was located (August 15, 1957). On August 50, the three young birds were still in the nest, but had left by September 2, As is very typical of this species, 106 the male was seen in a nearby tree each day as the observer came near the nesting site. There was no observation of thus species other than nesting pairs. EASTERN GOLDFINCH Spinus tristis tristis (Linnaeus) The Goldfinch nesting begins much later than the other species. (Walkinshaw) (1929) Nests are under construction in early July and incubation starts two weeks later, followed by second broods. The peak of the nesting cycle is reached about the middle of August. Kellogg Fa~estry Tract. The varied topography of the Fa'estry Tract, with its divergent vegetation,is well adapted to Goldfinch nesting. The swamps contain many shrubs and small trees. The hillsides are covered with patches of thistle, chickory,and other nesting materials. Food is abundant and the nests of this species are very‘common. Nest Location. Nests placed six to twelve feet from the ground are most often in elms or maples in this area. There happens to be a very good stand of the latter species under fifteen feet high. Nests placed two to four feet from the ground may be found in such marsh shrubs as panicled or red-osier dogwood, and.black haw (nannyberry). 107 The nest is most often placed in a three or four way fork with rather slender limbs. On one occasion one nest was built on top of another with a total depth of four inches of material. The fork in which it was placed was composed of six supporting limbs. There does not seem to be any choice as to type of location except that there must be a suitable support about which to weave the foundation material for the nest. There are records of.nests in both deciduous or coniferous trees up to as high as twenty feet. Here on the Forestry Tract the pines are rather low as yet (1959) and the best nesting locations seem to be in rather low posmions. There is a shift from year to year in a choice of nesting area. One year they are in the taller trees and shrubs, another time it is the low marshland shrubs with almost no nests in the higher trees on the upland. In 1957 there was a decided movement toward the upland, but 1958 found the marsh well inhabited again. The cutting of the Canada Thistle (C. arvense L.) in different places from year to year has perhaps had some effect. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary. Goldfinch nesting at the Sanctuary is not as frequent as at the Forestry Tract. In several ways already mentioned the conditions are not as ideal. There are less weeds, few thistles, and less desirable nesting locations. The pines are most often used,according to observa- tions. Nests are often placed in the tip as high as twelve 108 Fig. XXVIII Goldfinch -E i. g- The Goldfinch is a very common nesting bird of this area. Here the young are being fed by the male bird. Photograph by Mr. Robert Whiting and Mr. Chas. H. Blair. 109 feet from.the ground. The forking of the pine branch is ideal, or the nest is sometimes placed against the trunk. Certain years there is a rather heavy nesting in the shrubs of the swales or in the upland fruit or nut trees. Several nests have been recorded in spruce trees, but I have never found one in a jack pine. Summary of Goldfinch Nesting: Date found: Most of the 97 nests were found between August 1 and August 25. Few nests were found in July. Nest location: All nests studied were on the Kellogg Forestry Tract or the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary. Most of the nests were placed in three or four-way forks with rather slender limbs. They appear common in: Cornus Amomum. Kinnikinnik-Grey Dogwood Ulmus fulva Slippery Elm Pinus resinosa ' Norway Pine Prunus serotina Wild Black Cherry Physocarpus opulifolius Ninebark Acer saccharum. Sugar Maple Ehd next most common in: Cornus stolinfera Red-osier Dogwood Crataegus sp. Hawthorn Sambucus canadensis Common Elder Corylus Filbert and appear occasionally in: Malus pumila Apple Mmstnmhm Smmc 110 Tilia americana Basswood Robinia pseudo-acacia Common Locust Pyrus Communis Pear Fraximus americana White Ash Cornus candidissima Panicled Dogwood Virburnum Lentago Nannyberry Ulmus americana American Elm The highest nest was over twelve feet from.the ground and the lowest less than two feet. The average was about four feet, eleven inches. Number of eggs: There was an average of slightly under five eggs per nest. Outcome: An average of all years'studies shows approximately 50 percent of the nests producing young ready to leave. The Goldfinch winters irregularly in small numbers in this section of the state. Because the nesting is late, there are a few scattered flocks in early summer. But as nesting goes well into September, there is no flocking except family groups until after the summer season is well over. larger flocks are common in late fall and locally in‘winter. RED-EYED TOWHEE Pipilo erythrophthalmus erythrophthalmus (Linnaeus) Nests of this bird are not common in late summer. Only one nesting record was recorded fa? the entire period of 111 the study. On August 25, 1957, I found a nest built low in the base of a Hawthorn on the hillside at the W.-K. Kellogg Forestry Tract. At the time it contained three eggs. The eggs were fertile and when I visited the nest on September 5, 1958, the three young birds flew away with strong flight. Miss Wilma Stark reports a nest from wiich'three young left August 12, 1958, but gives no additional data. There are a few sight records of individuals or pairs in the wooded areas but the species is not abundant locally. EASTERN GRASSHOPPER SPARROW Ammodramus savannarum australis Maynard This bird is common to the upland meadows. There are a few records to indicate that nesting continues into ' late July but these observations are based on only a few nests. Even with two people and a chain the nests are very difficult to locate. The author located 10 nests in 1956 in a pasture a few miles east of Bedford. The last birds were out of the nest on July 26, but the singing of the males leads me to believe that there are some August attempts at nesting by this species. The birds cling to the grass so well that no obser- vations were made after the young left the nest. 112 WESTERN HENSLOW'S SPARROW Passerherbulus henslowi henslowi (Audubon) One Henslow Sparrow nest was observed. It was found on the Forestry Tract in a tuft of orchard grass (D. Glomerata L.). On August 19, it contained three young and one egg. It was still intact on the 25rd, although many people had visited and photographed the location. August 25 the nest had been torn from the grass and no evidence of young or egg was found. The males sang much until mid-July. During late July less singing was noted, and by early August, it had almost ceased. Both adults and young were most secretive throughout August and it was only after many trials that an occasional fleeting glimpse of one was obtained. EASTERN CHIPPING SPARROW Spizella passerina passerina (Bechstein) The Eastern Chipping Sparrow is a zommon nesting bird through July. The nests are placed low in the spruce around Wintergreen Lake and in thickets of briers and low bushes. There is a record of one nest as late as August 12, 1937. In all, I have a record of 29 nests for the summer period. There is a rather heavy nesting in the spring months whidh ta>ers off through the entire summer. My records average for the area studied about four nests in July and two in August for each year . .115 Fig. XXIX Chipping Sparrow The nest of a Chipping Sparrow located in a small Spruce on the east shore of Wintergreen Lake. This bird seems to prefer the smaller Spruce trees and is often found in them. 11;; A nest on July 15, 1957, contained two young birds and a Cowbird. On.the following day, July 1h, only the Cowbird remained in the nest. At the same perioi but one year later, July 5, 1958, three young birds were ready to leave a nest in the same location. The nest was located two feet high in a Scotch pine. Another typical summer nest was discovered in a red cedar. One egg was in the nest on July 11, two on July 15, and two young birds on July 25, 1958. No later check was made. The Cowbird was rather destructive on my nests. My survival rate for Chipping Sparrow young was less than 50 per cent due to Cowbird activities. Graper removed the Cowbird eggs and reports "four nests with.ten eggs, eight of which were known to get safely on the wing." I saw no evidence of flocking beyond family groups. EASTERN FIELD SPARROW Spizella pusilla pusilla (Wilson) The Field Sparrow is a common bird in the summer months in this part of the state. Its plaintive song can be heard from its time of arrival in early April, during daylight hours, until the latter part of August when nesting activities cease. (Walkinshaw) (l9h0) The side hills at the Kellogg Forestry Tract, covered as they are with blackberry bushes, young trees, and.shrubs, and adjacent to grass meadows and weed-grown fence rows are favorite habitats of this bird. In this area in 1957 a nest 115 contained four eggs on August 25. By the time these eggs hatched, the brood would be well into the fall. Another nest on the same date contained three young about ready to leave. Late nesting has been reported for an area only a few miles away by Walkinshaw (1956), "In a group of 70 nests observed, 9 were found between May 1 and 15, 7 during the last half of May, 16 for the first half of July, 5 for the last half, and 9 for the first half of August." Nests in late August are rather difficult to find, astshere seems less tendency for song and much tramping is necessary before one can locate a nest. At my home in 1952, I located a nest containing two eggs in a Privit hedge on September 16. The nest was destroyed a few days later. At the time of discovery a pair of Field Sparrows were defending the nest, but appeared to become discouraged by the rather cool nigits that followed. In the five-year period of this study I have records of 51 nests. Nesting is of course very common in June, but after the middle of the month I have records of only 5, 1h for July, 15 for August, and one for September. Adults feeding young birds was a common observation. On two different ooasions I was able to catch young birds after they had left the nest. As soon as the young were able to shift for themselves very little was seen of them, however, and on no occasion did I observe a flock of adults. Cowbird activities were not as pronounced with this species as with some others. Perhaps August nesting is rather late as CoWbird eggs are found with the spring broods. 116 MISSISSIPPI SONG SPARROW Melospiza melodia euphonia Wetmore The Song Sparrow arrives in.this area in very early spring. Its first nests are in June when a tussock of grass, or the broad leaves of a plant such as the strawberry offer shelter and protection. Later in low bushes or small trees, or perhaps in tangles of blackberry brush, the nests of the second brood are constructed. If this second attempt is not successful, other attempts may be made until well into the summer. Such a nest was observed on the W. K. Kellogg Forestry Tract, from.which the young did not leave until September 8, 1958. For the months of July and August an average of 8 nests have been found each summer for the last 5 years. -Several of these nests were in the low branches or even in tussocks of grass under pine trees. h were in the low branches of the Nerway Spruce, while 2 were similarly located in a Norway Pine. One nest was found in a White Pine. Any of the low thickets of briers or bushes also make good nesting territory. One such nest was located in a current bush (Ribies). While the early nests are for the most part placed on the ground, the summer nests are from a few inches to 2% feet above the ground. One nest, located 18 inches high in a swamp rise, contained 2 eggs on July h, 1958. Later a Cowbird egg was added but this was removed by the author. 2 young birds left July 15. Another July A, 1958, nest in a Canada thistle was completely destroyed on July 6. The young birds were seldom observed after they b ft the nest. l. 2. 10. 11. 12. 15. 117 SUMMARY There is much summer nesting in the area studied. Nests are seldom harmed by observation if care and judgment are used. Nesting concentrations shift from year to year due to local conditions. Nesting materials are not fixed for each species, but vary with local conditions. There is a marked decline in the nesting of some species with the arrival of hot and dry weather. Information on predators at the nest is very difficult to obtain. Birds concentrate (flock) to a food supply, a suitable loafing ground, or a place to spend the night (roost). Migration flocks build up slowly in some apecies. My observations would indicate considerable local movement of birds after nesting. I Birds prefer native food to cultivated species when obtainable. Banding for later identification except for the Purple Martin has no harmful effect on the bird unless the band is not properly placed. Photographic work seldom harms'bird nesting if carefully done. Because of working conditions, the exact extent of summer nesting is difficult to obtain. 118 1h. Exact data are more difficult to obtain among evergreen than among the broad leaved shrubs and trees because of ease of working and a winter check when the leaves are off. CONCLUSION It seemed evident to me that an intensive and well conducted study of the birds in.a comparatively small area over a several-year period might be of'some scientific importance. A number of such studies made in several separated localities in Michigan could give a better concept of birds and their habits in the state than can be obtained by a superficial study of the entire state. This study should also be useful in the future. A five-year study of the same area made later in the same manner will demonstrate changes and perhaps the causes in the status of any species. There is also a conservation value, for only when the basic facts concerning a bird and its relation to other animals and to its environment in general are known, is it possible to assist the species, or possible for man to utilize the bird to his advantage. And lastly, there are the values and contacts which I (as a public school teacher) have derived from.such an investigation. The help of able advisors, the scientific approach to a field problem, the methods of data collecting (particularly photography) and the many biological principals 'of which I may make continued use in.the classroom. 119 BIBLIOGRAPHY Baldwin, S. Prentiss; and Bowen, W. Wedgwood. 1927 - Nesting and Local Distribution of the House wren. The Auk, Vol. XLV, No. 2. Barrows, Walter B. 1912 - Michigan Bird Life. Forbush, Edward H. 1929 - Birds of Massachusetts. Henry, C. J. 1952 - Hole Nesting Birds at the W. K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary. Hill, E. B., F. T. Riddel, and F. F. Elliott. 1950 - Types of Farming in Michigan. Michigan State Coll. Agr. Exper. Sta. Special Bull. 206:1-85. Kalmback, E. R. 19h0 - Economic Status of the English Sparrow in the U. S. Lindsey, Alton A. 1959 - Food of the Starling in Central New York. Wilson Bulletin, Vol. 51, No. 9. Perkins, S. 0. and J. Tyson. 1926 - Soil Survey of Kalamazoo County, Michigan. U. 3. Dept. Agr. 1922. Pirnie, Dr. M. D. 1950 - Restocking of the Canada Goose Successful in Southern Michigan. Schneider, C. F. 1917 - Climatic Conditions of Michigan Todd, W. E. Clyde. 19h0 - Birds of Western Pennsylvania. Van Tyne Josselyn. 1959 - Check List of the Birds of Michigan. Veatch, J. O. 1955 - Agricultural Land Clissification and Land Types of Michigan. Spec. Bull. 251. Walkinshaw, Dr. L. H. ' 1929 - Life Histories of the Eastern Goldfinch. _ Life Histories of the Eastern Field Sparrow. Weaver, R. L. 1959 - Winter Observations and a Study of the Nesting of the English Sparrow. ‘ ROOM, USE ONLY. W23“, In“ 0 New .41 real?“ __ [mm-03mm LOAN . ' Jan 6 '56 a '1 —-_-~ I. I s‘n- - ‘n 1... HICHIGQN STQTE UNIV. LIBRQRIES I ll” HUI II llllllll III I 31293005850221