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Robin Notes

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Following a suggestion, numerous letters were sent out to ascertain the whereabouts of the western robin (Merula migratoria propinqua) which is usually common in the region about San Francisco Bay in winter but which has been absent or very rare during the past winter. The following replies have been received to date.-ED.

Swan Lake Valley, near Klamath Falls, Klamath Co., Oregon. Last winter was unusually mild, making it possible for several kinds of birds to remain with us instead of going to their usual southern resorts. These include robins and meadowlarks. The common robin nests throughout this region and is abundant usually from March I until regular winter weather begins, only staying through the winter when it is usually mild as last winter.

ELMER I. APPLEGATE, Klamath Falls, Ore.

Alta, Placer Co., Cal., on C.P.R.R., alt. 3600. Robins have been rare all winter, probably on account of warm weather and lack of snow at higher elevations. Usually they are common. They were common at Blue Canyon, 4400 ft., March 21, and were singing in great numbers. Here they were feeding on dry berries of manzanita and Heteromeles.

W. W. PRICE.

Applegate, Placer Co., Cal.. on C. P. R. R. Robins are never very common here in the uplands, in winter. Usually they keep to the American River side canyons in large flocks, and were there this year in large numbers about a month ago [latter part of Feb.]. They are, I think, in their normal numbers here now, both in the canyons and in the upland meadows. They left Truckee region in large numbers at about their usual time in the fall, with the exception of a few flocks which went through much later, that is, long after the rainy and snowy spell of last September. I am sure they are not up there now, even sparingly. I have not seen or heard a varied thrush (Ixoreus nævius) since I returned here, Dec. 25, 1904, which is remarkable.

JOHN J. WILLIAMS, March 24, 1905.

Fyffe, El Dorado Co., Cal., alt 3700 ft.T here have been no robins here during the past winter. I was told that they have been numerous about Diamond Springs, about two and a half miles west of Placerville, and at other places up to about 2000 feet. Robins are still scarce, although there are a few here now. I have seen no varied thrushes this winter. Winter has been unusually mild here.

L. E. TAYLOR, April 4, 1905.

Three Rivers, Tulare Co., Cal [foothills, lower portion of Upper Sonora belt]. I have not observed the usual number of robins or juncos this winter, nor have I seen any varied thrushes, but I am pretty sure I heard a varied thrush on two occasions. We had wild oats headed out here in January, which is something I never saw before.

W. F. DEAN

Lone Pine and Cottonwood Canyon (Mt. Whitney). No robins were observed the last week of March either at Lone Pine or on the lower slopes of Whitney. I ascended the canyon nearly to the yellow pines (ponderosa). Robins were “reported” by the inhabitants, however. Weather stormy.

EARL MORRIS, Stanford Univ., Cal.

Auburn, Cal., C. P. R. R., alt. about 1000 ft. Robins have been present in usual numbers during the past winter.

Dr. R. F. ROONEY.

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