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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???