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BIRDS IN THEIR SEASONS

by John Wright, Head of Montague, P.E.I. (Excerpted, with some interpretations, from The Birds of Nova Scotia by Robie Tufts)

In late winter and early spring many of us eagerly await the arrival of returning birdlife as heralds of the season to come. The following are the average times that migrants return to Nova Scotia, according to Robie Tufts, in The Birds of Nova Scotia. Average arrival dates for Prince Edward Island differ somewhat, but the sequence should be more or less similar. -

Mid March: American Woodcock

Late March: Killdeer. Mar. 24: Rusty Blackbird, Robin. Mar. 31: Common Grackle.

Early April: Pintail, Blue-winged Teal, Red-winged Blackbird (male), Song Sparrow. Apr. 1: Great Blue Heron. Apr. 3: Piping Plover.

Mid April: American Bittern, Ring-necked Duck, Marsh Hawk, Kestral, Semipal- mated Plover, Common Snipe, Mourning Dove, Common Flicker, Red-winged Blackbird (female). Apr. 15: Osprey. Apr. 18: Savannah Sparrow. Apr. 19: Swamp Sparrow, Tree Sparrow.

Late April: Pied-billed Grebe, Wood Duck, Sora, Willet, Arctic Tern. Apr. 22: Yellow—rumped Warbler, Palm Warbler, Vesper Sparrow. Apr. 25: Hermit Thrush, Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Apr. 28: Winter Wren. Apr. 29: Belted

Kingfisher, Yellow-bellied Saosucker. Apr. 30: Greater Yellowlegs.

Early May: Peregrine Falcon, Sara for late lcrili, Least Sand: :er, lrct‘c Tern 73n :ze lsriT}. May 2: 3‘i::‘nc 3:arrow. Ma, 3: Earn Swa~ aw, Wh“e-‘" ca‘ - Szarrow. May 3: 3-:ttee Sargeioer, Cnimre Euif‘

“i: May: ’e‘i.u-:et‘+ed Elvcatcner,.3;~x Smallcw, Swafdscr's" ’uS“ ;‘°c:‘n’s Sparrow. .May 12: Black-throatec Green Waroler. May :3: ;€3S: :xy~ catcher, Black and White Warbler, Yellow Warbler. May 11: Solitary

Vireo, Northern Waterthrush, Mourning Warbler. May 15: Magnolia Warbler. May 16: Nashville Warbler, Northern Parula, Bobolink. May 17: Eastern Kingbird, Black-throated Blue Warbler, American Redstart. May 18: Chestnut-sided Warbler. May 19: Ovenbird. May 20: Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Blackburnian Warbler.

Late May: Common Tern, Cape May Warbler, Bay—breasted Warbler, Northern Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak. May 21: Yellowthroat. May 23: Blackpoll Warbler. May 24: Olive-sided Flycatcher, Tennessee Warbler. May 25: Conmon Nighthawk, Canada Warbler. May 26: Catbird, Red-eyed Vireo.

May 27: Wilson's Warbler. May 28: Eastern Wood Pewee. May 29: Alder (Traill's) Flycatcher.

Edwin Johnstone of New Haven has two Robins regularly visiting his yard to feed on the bright red berries adorning his barberry bushes. However, they haven't yet ventured up to join the other birds at the feeder. He's wondering if anyone knows of any special food that Robins particularly like, which he might try to see if he can lure them in closer to the feeder. Suggestions, anyone???