Page:Bird-lore Vol 03.djvu/118

 Birds and Seasons 103 of the Black-poll Warbler, and the silencing of his quaint pebble -like clicking notes — one of the very best indicators, by the way — the season of spring migration has happily drawn to a close. So, with the going out of May, the exciting period of the past few weeks has suddenly termi- nated, and we find ourselves face to face with a new order of things. With the birds it is the central or focusing point in many of their careers, while to ourselves as students it should bring forth a season of no mean importance. First, for the opportunity thus given us for determining to a degree of certainty the number and kind of our permanent and summer-resident forms; second, for the very great interest attachable to a more thorough knowledge of their nesting ways. June, to the majority of our birds, means the great nursery month of the year. A very considerable number of them, it is true, may have anticipated it from one to several weeks' time. Again, there are others that will delay all nest-building operations for several weeks yet to come. In any event, however, the question of food suitable for the needs of their growing young, at the proper season, has much to do in explain- ing their otherwise eccentric habits, whether they are late or early breeders, as the case may be. June is also the month when a gradual cessation of the season of song is noticeable. The Bobolinks, (jrasshopper and Henslow's Sparrows of our meadows and fields, the Marsh Wrens in the sloughs, or the Red- eyed and Yellow -throatetl X'ireos of the deeper woods, together with the Indigo Buntings in the sproutland clearings, may continue to interest us with their songs, some for a few weeks, others, like the Indigo, the entire summer through; still we, nevertheless, have not failed of detecting a degree of listlessness on the part of others, for example the Robin, Baltimore Oriole, Thrasher and Scarlet Tanager. An over -taxed parental care mav suggest an explanation in the case of some, but for the many a much better solution is offered in the approaching season of molt. As it is, the middle of jul- fintis our miti- summer chorus sadly decimated, both in the number of iiuliviilual per- formers, as well as in the quality of songs olfereil. So to study, then, our biriis to the best advantage we must visit them in their weedy lowlami haunts, the lieiiges and the wet meadows, where many iiave congregated prior to the formation of tiieir summer roosts. We .-ire sun- to find there the Dickcissel and the Hobolink — old males of the latter in molting parti -colored dress — the Song anil the Henslow's Sparrows, and at certain times and places, the Bron/e and Red -winged lilackhirds in mixed flocks of old and nouul;. In the lowlands, too, the lilack-crowneil Night Heron is aUo much in eideiu-e during wet seasons.