Page:Bird-lore Vol 04.djvu/151

 for 190mg @hserberz

A PRIZE ESSAY

Bird Notes for April and May

BY ARCHIE WALKER lazcil m )(‘il5)r Andrews. NiC.

OUISIANA VVater-Thrush came April Ist. Every spring it nests L in an old pasture by a branch back of our house.

Rusty Blackbird came on the 5th of April. At ﬁrst I saw just one, he was walking on the limb of an apple tree. I watched him till he ﬂew to an oak across the road where I saw several others, one sat high up in the tree and kept watch, his song sounded like a wagon screaking.

A Vireo was in our orchard on the 6th of April. It was very small, had two wing-bars, and a white eye-ring, and was catching insects like a Flycatcher

Four wild Ducks were on a neighbor's pond on the 8th of April, when they ﬂew I saw white on their wings.

On the 9th of April I saw the Brown Thrasher. next day he was sing- ing the sweetest I nearly ever heard ; we went under the tree and he sat there a long time singing the same as if we hadn't been near.

The Black and White Creeping Warbler came on the 10th, we saw it get a worm out of a hole in a limb.

On the 17th we saw a crooked long-necked bird that I think was a Little Green Heron.

The Whiteeeyed Vireo came on the 18th. it sings very much like the Chat but is smaller and not as yellow underneath.

The same day I heard Cat Bird going like a cat crying but did not get to see it for a week.

The Myrtle Warbler was the ﬁrst to come. Soon after others came, but were so high up in the trees we could not tell what they were.

On the 18th we saw two brown birds we took to be Wood Thrushes. which we call the " Quillaree." They were feeding on the ground with a Flicker.

We saw and heard several Log-cocks and heard Ovenvbirds in the laurel, After awhile I saw one walking on the ground. It made me think of a Titlark. only it did not tilt its tail.

We saw a large bird somebody had killed in a marshy ﬁeld by a river. It looked something like the Little Green Heron, only it was much larger and a diﬁerent colori It was an American Bittern. They call it the Indian Hen here.

On the 19th of April I heard the sweetest new song in the spruce

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