Observant Doctor Originates Phenology in Michigan

When Harmon A. Atkins, M.D., moved to a territory in Michigan in 1842, he decided to stay, with his tenure spanning more than four decades during which a profound interest in birds brought about a pioneer effort for historic ornithology. The doctor documented the arrival of different species, their status, and other aspects of their local natural history which he shared in a variety of ways.

Dr. Atkins arrived in 1842, having left Elba, N.Y., with nothing to indicate why he selected this particular place. At his new home, he was the first medical practitioner in the township, according to chronicles of the county history book. Though he left for a short time, he returned - owning property - and took up residence in Belle Oak, a small hamlet also shown on a map of Ingham county in 1873 as the Locke post-office.

The township was mostly covered with forest, and had sufficient growth of beech, ash, maple, basswood, hickory and black-walnut to provide the harvest of timber in abundance, according to a history of the county. The area includes Sullivan Creek and Squaw Creek.

Area maps of Locke township, Michigan.

The territory was his home, his "roving office" and the outdoor setting where he denoted a variety of birds he observed and appreciated enough to remember.

Dr. H.A. Atkins was "an old style doctor, went horseback, had his saddle bags, and believed in bleeding, and blistering. From necessity he was forced to use barks and herbs. His great knowledge of medical botany enable him to gather from woods and fields. He made a decoction of white popple bark to take the place of quinine in chills and fevers. Many of his old patrons told ... how he cured them of the 'shakes' by using this decoction. Dr. Atkins was a naturalist and his hobby was ornithology. He was a second John Burroughs in keenness of observation. He always noticed the flight of our migratory birds and would often stop when going to visit the sick to study the habits and appearances of any strange bird. His articles on birds often appeared in the local newspapers, and his 'Book on Birds' appeared and was published with Dr. Cook's work issued by M.A.C. Dr. Atkin's studies took a practical trend as he showed the farmers that the birds were great insect destroyers and should be protected instead of destroyed." — Pioneer History of Ingham County

In looking for details on this pioneer of historic ornithology, there was no information found on the manner in which the doctor kept his observations. Undoubtedly his notebook was a treasure, providing the source for presenting his observations 25 years after they were first noted during his travels about the local country.

Bird Calendar

The doctor certainly had a roving eye for three months each spring of the year, looking for his first sighting of a particular species. Some of the essential details were issued in summary tables - typically only nine or ten lines - of an article of a very few paragraphs in the Ornithologist and Oologist, a fledgling journal of the early 1880s.

The Baltimore Oriole and Scarlet Tanager were the first two species with the details issued; and both had been first noted in the summer of 1842. Then, the small green-crested flycatcher (Empidonax acadicus) first seen in 1857, followed by the Whip-poor-will (first seen in 1842), American Redstart, and Sandhill Crane. A couple of brief articles on other species were issued during the interim, including one noting how the Black-billed Cuckoo had a nest in which a Yellow-billed Cuckoo also laid eggs, and possibly incubated the entire clutch!

The following table starts with Julian Date 50 which corresponds to February 19, 1857; day 60 equals March 1; day 90 is March 30 or March 31, depending on the year; day 120 is April 29 or 30; day 130 is May 9 or 10; and day 156 is June 5, 1865. A Julian date is determined by converting a calendar day to a particular number, and is very useful in sorting dates of occurrence.

Julian Date	Acadian Flycatcher	American Redstart	Baltimore Oriole	Sandhill Crane	Scarlet Tanager	Whip-poor-will
50	-	-	-	1857	-	-
60	-	-	-	1882	-	-
68	-	-	-	1860, 1871	-	-
72	-	-	-	1883	-	-
73	-	-	-	1868	-	-
74	-	-	-	1878	-	-
75	-	-	-	1859	-	-
78	-	-	-	1858, 1873	-	-
79	-	-	-	1865, 1874	-	-
84	-	-	-	1867	-	-
86	-	-	-	1862	-	-
87	-	-	-	1869	-	-
88	-	-	-	1872, 1881	-	-
89	-	-	-	1877	-	-
90	-	-	-	1863, '70, '81	-	-
92	-	-	-	1861	-	-
93	-	-	-	1866	-	-
99	-	-	-	1876, 1879	-	-
103	-	-	-	1864	-	-
104	-	-	-	-	-	1858, 1878
112	1860	-	-	-	-	1866, 1881
113	1861	-	-	-	-	1861, ' 63, '77
114	1881	-	-	-	-	1862
115	1870, 1878	-	-	-	-	1869, 1872
116	1862, ' 65, '72	-	-	-	-	-
117	1880	-	-	-	-	-
118	1866	-	1859	-	-	1856, 1880
119	1858, 1871	-	-	-	-	1860
120	1863, '67, 68, '79	1878	-	-	-	1857, ' 71, '79
121	-	-	1860, '61, '71, '78	-	1878	1865, '67, '70
122	1859, 1869	1863, 1872	-	-	-	1859
123	1857	1866, '69, '82	1856	-	1872	-
124	1873	1879, 1881	1869, 1880	-	1861, '63, '80	1868
125	1874	1873, 1880	1858, '67, '77, '79	-	1856, '60, '70	1873, 1876
126	1864	-	1868	-	1859, '71, '73	1864
127	-	1870, 1874	-	-	-	-
128	1876	1860, '61, 67	1865, '66, '72, '73	-	1858, 1874	1875
129	1875	1875	1864, 1874	-	-	1874
130	1877	1861, '71, '76, '77	1862, '63, '75, '76	-	1866, '75, '79	-
131	-	1859	1857	-	-	-
132	-	1857, 1858	-	-	1862, 1877	-
133	-	1868	-	-	1876	-
134	-	-	-	-	1869	-
135	-	-	-	-	1864	-
136	-	-	-	-	1868	-
137	-	-	-	-	1867	-
138	-	1865	-	-	1857	-
156	-	-	-	-	1865	-
157	-	1864	-	-	-	-

The dates noted by the doctor readily indicate the times when appropriate for the particular species to arrive in Michigan. When the particular date (i.e., the julian date has several instances), this is an indication of the period when the species was most noted more often in this region of Michigan by Dr. H.A. Atkins.

There were undoubtedly a variety of factors influencing when the Doctor first noted a species, including their prominence in the landscape, ease of being noted, and those personal concerns - especially from patients - which could influence the ability of Atkins to look for birds and to take the time to make a notation in the medium which he used to record observations ...

Acadian Flycatcher

First noted on April 21 with the range of arrival dates extending to May 10, a period of 28 days.

American Redstart

Arrival dates from April 30 to June 5, with most of the arrival dates occurring through mid-May, a period of 18 days. Perhaps the June date was the result of a doctor caring for his patients?

Baltimore Oriole

From April 28 to May 11, a period of 13 days. Nothing is prominent here to indicate the variance in dates of arrival. This species appears to have the most constricted range of dates.

Sandhill Crane

Dates from February 19 to April 12, a period of ca. 53 days. There were obviously a variety of factors influencing when the cranes arrived, which would be based on weather conditions and other items apparent to the birds, and which would may not be obvious to some watcher.

Scarlet Tanager

Arrival dates from May 1 to June 5, with all but one between May 1 and May 18 (a period of 17 days), so the latter date was probably the result of some unknown influence.

Whip-poor-will

Arrived between April 14 and May 9, a period of 25 days.

These details convey an effort of observation based upon closely looking for different species - all of them were not so readily seen as the Sandhill Crane - and to note the time. The focus was not for one year, but continued for one year, then the next and onward for more than 25 years.

Watching the birds — though the statement may seem trivial based upon the historic record of accomplishment — obviously meant so much to the Doctor, that he continually kept his eye on the bird scene, made his vital notes, and eventually presented them to other enthusiasts when there was a means of publication.

Ornithological Legacy

Dr. Atkins continued to publish his bird observations. Two important papers gave details on the winter and summer birds (82 species during June to August 1884) of the township. Other items issued about his observations are given in the bird books for the state, though summarized.

Sadly, the birdly efforts of Dr. H.A. Atkins were cut short by his death on May 19th, when he was 64, having been born in 1821 in Erie County, New York. The doctor's obituary was published in latter 1885 in the Ornithologist and Oologist. Another much shorter version was issued in the Auk, a fledgling journal of the era.

"For twenty-nine years, he carefully recorded day by day the arrivals, presence and abundance of a large series of birds, and his accuracy and painstaking effort have rarely, if ever, been equaled. His notes, a few of which were inserted from time to time in our pages, were always the results of his own observations. We valued them especially for the care, so plainly shown, with which each state fact was personally endorsed." — Ornithologist and Oologist

The editor mentioned that Dr. Atkins had planned on publishing a book of observations, but was unable to achieve this.

Obviously a detailed presentation of the observations of Harmon A. Atkins, M.D. would still be a valuable contribution to historic ornithology, more than 125 years later, as they would indicate the conditions for the migratory birds at a particular place in time. The details on spring arrival dates would make an especially interesting comparison if available for species other than those given here, and if climatological data could also be evaluated to evaluate any apparent differences.

Seasonal Bird Occurrence Given in 1863-1871 Reports of Department of Agriculture

One of the most consistent details given for the occurrence of a particular species of bird, is when it occurred and when it was observed. These two essential facts have nearly always been conveyed for a phantasmagorical array of sources dating several hundreds of years. Through the centuries, the manner in which any observation was indicated has consistently changed, and only in the last fifteen decades has there been attention given to the chronology of bird occurrence, and the seasonal conditions which can be conveyed.

Most of the early-history sources which document where and when particular bird species were noted are basic presentations summarizing the bird life present. Narratives of expeditions or explorations often mention a type of bird seen on a particular day of a journey, given with the intent of noting it was observed, without any particular focus on presence during different seasons or to determine a bird chronology. With an ongoing focus on avifauna during the historic decades, there was a subtle, yet profound shift in what was deemed to be important.

One of the most significant changes, was when bird watchers noted the seasonal occurrence of different species. This seems to be the primary focus of birding in the modern era, yet when nearly 150 years ago when this particular realm was just starting, it was an important feature of the seasons for a particular year, as represented in a government-issued, monthly meteorological report.

When the United States Department of Agriculture issued these documents, a primary topic was weather conditions, with notations on how temperatures, snow and storms and their attributed influence on dates when birds would appear, flowers would bloom or trees would bud. The notes were not based upon government efforts, but were derived from information contributed by a myriad of contributors, in many different states.

The first notes - based upon information sent to the Smithsonian Institution, then summarized in the Department of Agriculture reports - appeared in November 1863, from Iowa Falls, Iowa. Under the topic "Flight of Birds." it was reported:

• "Nov. 3. Iowa Falls. A great many geese and brants have passed over towards the south in the past few days.

• "Nov. 25. In the evening a large flock of geese and ducks flying north. They have been more plenty this fall than in former years."

Notes on the birds were typically very brief, but they nonetheless indicated when certain species were noted at a particular place ... the basic essentials. Only a few words conveyed any observation, but each account was enough to initiate a period where reports of seasonal bird occurrence - especially for spring - were reported and documented across a large region of several states.

These reports - based on the information given in the publications currently online - started in 1863, were already being abridged with the March, 1864 report, the text stating: "It has been found necessary to abridge the space allotted to this report, and therefore much material of a character similar to that which appeared in previous numbers has been omitted."

In the March, 1864 report is a simple table comparing when three particular species had been noted first in the spring during recent years. These convey only a few observations, but the overall details represent one of the first known comparisons of occurrence dates, based on several years of records. In this case from Winnebago, Illinois. The observer was - based on the name cited within the report - J.W. Tolman, whom provided records for a meteorological station for the Smithsonian Institution from 1858 to 1868, according to records of the museum. There are also 89 specimen records - from 1857 to 1865 - within the National Museum of Natural History Division of Birds Collections, representing more than 30 species.

Tolman was obviously a pioneer in more than one manner. In this table, the wild geese would undoubtedly be the Canada Goose, the blackbird the Red-winged Blackbird, and the obvious robin.

	1857	1858	1859	1860	1861	1862	1863	1864
First flight of wild geese northward	Feb. 27	Mar. 16	Mar. 2	Mar. 2	Mar. 1	...	Feb. 28	Mar. 8
First appearance of black bird	Mar. 24	Mar. 24	Mar. 13	Mar. 7	...	...	Mar. 17	Mar. 9
First appearance of robin	Mar. 20	Mar. 15	Feb. 25	Mar. 31	Mar. 26	...	...	Mar. 25

This table is distinctively unique, that in the subsequent reports, there was nothing similar published, probably due to the time and expense of issuing information in a printed document, even in this historic era.

In the first months, notes about the birds was given in a distinct section, titled "Appearance of Birds, Flowering of Plants, &c." This changed to where notable items were part of notes given about the weather.

The details were given in a standard format, based on location, starting in the northeast United States, then going southward and westward. For each place, comments were designated to a particular date.

Included in the reports were details that are important for determining further details on the observations. For example, a table showing the highest and lowest range of the thermometer, listed the observations stations in each state, its county and the observer, making it possible to determine the name of the contributor.

For example, in January, 1867, this is a tally of the reporting stations:

• Maine: 9 stations • New Hampshire: 5 stations • Vermont: 7 stations • Massachusetts: 13 • Rhode Island: 1 • Connecticut: 5 • New York: 29 • New Jersey: 12 • Pennsylvania: 19 • Delaware: 1 • Maryland: 5 • Virginia: 1 • West Virginia: 4 • North Carolina: 4 • South Carolina: 1 • Georgia: 1 • Alabama: 2 • Florida: 3 • Texas: 2

• Mississippi: 3 • Arkansas: 1 • Tennessee: 2 • Kentucky: 2 • Ohio: 24 • Michigan: 9 • Indiana: 9 • Illinois: 21 • Wisconsin: 10 • Minnesota: 5 • Iowa: 19 • Missouri: 6 • Kansas: 7 • Nebraska: 3; the stations and the observer, were: Elkhorn (or Elkhorn City, Washington County, though is attributed to Douglas County to conform to the current county name) - John S. Bowen; Bellevue (Sarpy County) - Rev. Wm. Hamilton; and Glendale (Cass County) - Dr. A.L. and Miss Child.

In compiling this essential information for knowing about historic ornithology, there were alternative spellings noted for some stations, and as shown with the Elkhorn or Elkhorn City locale, the county was wrong, based on the current situation. Upon determining the particular location for each station, one particular name was determined based on an evaluation of the instances within the source material, and a county was designated based upon the meteorology report or from modern maps.

Within the details are the particulars of records for nearly 60 different species. Some were noted many times, with others perhaps only mentioned a time or two. Noted most often was the robin, wild geese (a.k.a. Canada Goose), Eastern Bluebird, martin and blackbird. This is a list of the sixty species reported in the contributions, based on an analysis of the records, and an attribution of each notes to a particular species, when possible, based on the species originally designated, or other given factors:

Common Name - Number of Reports • Snow Goose - 5 • Canada Goose - 136 • Trumpeter Swan - 3 • Mallard - 1 • Greater Prairie-Chicken - 6 • California Quail - 1 • Northern Bobwhite - 2 • American Bittern - 1 • Great Blue Heron - 1 • Black-crowned Night-Heron - 2 • Turkey Vulture - 1 • Red-tailed Hawk - 1 • Sandhill Crane - 5 • Killdeer - 4 • Upland Sandpiper - 1 • Wilson's Snipe - 2 • American Woodcock - 2 • Mourning Dove - 7 • Passenger Pigeon - 14 • Chuck-will's-widow - 3 • Whip-poor-will - 34 • Chimney Swift - 9 • Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 5 • Belted Kingfisher - 6 • Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 1 • Northern Flicker - 4 • Eastern Phoebe - 20 • Eastern Kingbird - 2 • Blue Jay - 6 • American Crow - 24 • Common Raven - 1

• Horned Lark - 1 • Purple Martin - 50 • Bank Swallow - 5 • Cliff Swallow - 1 • Barn Swallow - 13 • Black-capped Chickadee - 2 • Tufted Titmouse - 1 • White-breasted Nuthatch - 1 • Carolina Wren - 1 • House Wren - 5 • Eastern Bluebird - 126 • American Robin - 167 • Gray Catbird - 3 • Northern Mockingbird - 5 • Cedar Waxwing - 4 • Eastern Towhee - 1 • Fox Sparrow - 1 • Song Sparrow - 6 • Dark-eyed Junco - 4 • Northern Cardinal - 4 • Bobolink - 21 • Red-winged Blackbird - 45 • Eastern Meadowlark - 18 • Common Grackle - 5 • Baltimore Oriole - 4 • Purple Finch - 2 • Red Crossbill - 1 • American Goldfinch - 2

Records for these species along with other notations, are available from 33 states, during the years 1864 to 1871 (the number indicates the number of reports):

State	1864	1865	1866	1867	1868	1869	1870	1871
Alabama	-	-	-	-	2	-	4	1
California	-	-	-	-	-	-	4	-
Connecticut	-	-	-	1	4	-	6	3
Delaware	2	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Florida	-	-	-	-	2	-	-	-
Georgia	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-
Illinois	15	1	19	2	12	-	26	4
Indiana	11	-	1	1	6	-	19	1
Iowa	46	-	34	-	10	-	8	4
Kansas	2	-	1	-	-	-	17	2
Kentucky	-	-	2	-	1	-	1	1
Louisiana	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	1
Maine	12	1	-	-	12	-	19	6
Maryland	9	-	4	-	2	-	2	2
Massachusetts	11	2	5	3	17	-	20	1
Michigan	13	1	5	-	2	-	9	5
Minnesota	-	-	1	-	1	-	6	1
Mississippi	-	-	-	-	4	-	6	2
Missouri	5	-	9	-	-	4	9	2
Montana	-	-	-	-	-	-	6	-
Nebraska	5	-	3	1	3	-	7	-
New Hampshire	5	-	3	1	1	-	4	2
New Jersey	-	-	1	-	6	-	11	-
New York	22	-	4	-	7	-	38	4
North Carolina	-	-	-	-	3	-	2	-
Ohio	10	-	19	2	7	-	17	11
Pennsylvania	51	-	12	-	9	1	29	7
South Carolina	-	-	-	-	-	-	4	-
Tennessee	2	-	-	-	1	-	2	1
Texas	-	-	-	-	2	-	2	-
Vermont	10	-	1	1	3	-	15	-
Virginia	-	-	1	-	6	-	6	9
Wisconsin	18	-	10	-	4	1	10	-

All of the reports are from the United States of America, except for one instance from St. John, New Brunswick, Canada.

States such as Massachusetts and Illinois had regular contributions throughout the period. It was not until 1870 that information was sent in from the western states, such as Montana and California.

Some records - considering Nebraska for example - were first noted in 1864 and 1866, before the state had ven been established. Even in subsequent reports for this region, for one reporter from the Santee Agency along the very eastern extent of the Niobrara River, the county was designated as L'Eau Qui Court, which is a historic name for the river, and apparently a temporary county name, but was actually within the modern Knox County.

Origin of Bird Occurrence Reports

This rich source of bird occurrence details - contributing more than 800 records to the historic ornithology of North America - came to an end in a final issue of details for December 1871, given in the January 1872 report. In the next month: "The publication of the meteorological tables in the monthly is from this date discontinued, by direction of the Commissioner of Agriculture."

Thus ended the many reports for when a number of seasonal notes about when different birds species occurred. It would be several years until there would be an alternative, published source giving particulars of bird phenology on a wide-spread basis.

Records given in the reports from the different weather stations are presented in the following table, which includes only the information presented from 1863 to 1872. There are 256 localities represented in this list which is presented in alphabetical order for the given state of the records:

Site Designation	1863	1864	1865	1866	1867	1868	1869	1870	1871
Coatopa, Alabama	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	1
Havana, Alabama	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-
Opelika, Alabama	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-
Rockville, Alabama	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	-
Cahto, California	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-
Vacaville, California	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-
Colebrook, Connecticut	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-
Columbia, Connecticut	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	3	-
Middletown, Connecticut	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-
Southington, Connecticut	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	3
Waterbury, Connecticut	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	-	-
Milford, Delaware	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Wilmington, Delaware	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Lake City, Florida	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	-	-
Athens, Georgia	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-
Augusta, Illinois	-	3	-	-	-	2	-	-	-
Charleston, Illinois	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Dubois, Illinois	-	-	-	4	-	1	-	4	2
Galesburg, Illinois	-	3	-	2	-	-	-	-	-
Golconda, Illinois	-	-	-	1	-	1	-	-	-
Hennepin, Illinois	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	-
Loami, Illinois	-	-	-	2	-	-	-	-	-
Magnolia, Illinois	-	-	-	-	-	6	-	-	-
Manchester, Illinois	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Marengo, Illinois	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	2	-
Mount Sterling, Illinois	-	-	-	3	2	1	-	2	-
Oquawka, Illinois	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Ottawa, Illinois	-	1	-	5	-	1	-	3	-
Pekin, Illinois	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Sandwich, Illinois	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-
South Pass, Illinois	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	4	-
Tiskilwa, Illinois	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	-
Upper Alton, Illinois	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Waverly, Illinois	-	2	1	-	-	-	-	-	-
Winnebago, Illinois	2	3	-	-	-	-	-	4	-
Aurora, Indiana	-	-	-	-	-	4	-	2	-
Columbia City, Indiana	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	2	-
Knightstown, Indiana	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-
Laconia, Indiana	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Louisville, Indiana	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	5	-
Merom, Indiana	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	-	1
Muncie, Indiana	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
New Albany, Indiana	-	6	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
New Castle, Indiana	-	4	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Rensselaer, Indiana	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-
Vevay, Indiana	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	5	-
Algona, Iowa	-	3	-	1	-	-	-	-	-
Boonesboro, Iowa	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	2	-
Ceres, Iowa	-	-	-	2	-	-	-	-	-
Clinton, Iowa	-	-	-	1	-	2	-	2	1
Davenport, Iowa	-	-	-	3	-	-	-	-	-
Des Moines, Iowa	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-
Dubuque, Iowa	-	2	-	1	-	1	-	-	-
Fontanelle, Iowa	-	-	-	-	-	4	-	-	1
Fort Madison, Iowa	-	6	-	1	-	-	-	-	-
Independence, Iowa	-	-	-	2	-	1	-	1	1
Iowa Falls, Iowa	4	16	-	13	-	-	-	-	-
Lyons, Iowa	-	3	-	1	-	-	-	-	-
Madison, Iowa	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-
Manchester, Iowa	-	-	-	4	-	-	-	-	-
Monticello, Iowa	-	-	-	2	-	-	-	-	1
Mount Pleasant, Iowa	-	11	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Muscatine, Iowa	-	2	-	1	-	-	-	-	-
Onawa, Iowa	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Pleasant Plain, Iowa	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Waukon, Iowa	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-
West Bend, Iowa	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Atchison, Kansas	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-
Burlington, Kansas	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	4	-
Fort Riley, Kansas	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Holton, Kansas	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	5	-
Lawrence, Kansas	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-
Neosha Falls, Kansas	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Paola, Kansas	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	5	-
Plum Grove, Kansas	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Williamstown, Kansas	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Chilesburg, Kentucky	-	-	-	2	-	1	-	-	-
Shelby City, Kentucky	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	1
New Orleans - Mississippi River	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Ponchatoula, Louisiana	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Cornish, Maine	-	3	-	-	-	3	-	4	2
Houlton, Maine	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-
Lee, Maine	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Lisbon, Maine	-	4	-	-	-	3	-	2	-
Norway, Maine	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	3	-
Standish, Maine	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	1
Steuben, Maine	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
West Waterville, Maine	-	1	1	-	-	3	-	5	2
Williamsburg, Maine	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	2	1
Catonsville, Maryland	-	-	-	2	-	-	-	-	-
Frederick City, Maryland	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-
Sykesville, Maryland	-	9	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Woodlawn, Maryland	-	-	-	1	-	2	-	2	2
Amherst, Massachusetts	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	-	-
Billerica, Massachusetts	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Georgetown, Massachusetts	-	-	1	4	-	1	-	-	-
Kingston, Massachusetts	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	2	-
Mendon, Massachusetts	-	4	1	-	-	-	-	3	-
New Bedford, Massachusetts	-	4	-	1	-	2	-	1	1
Newbury, Massachusetts	-	-	-	-	-	3	-	-	-
North Billerica, Massachusetts	-	-	-	-	3	-	-	5	-
Richmond, Massachusetts	-	-	-	-	-	4	-	-	-
Sandwich, Massachusetts	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Topsfield, Massachusetts	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-
Westfield, Massachusetts	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Williamstown, Massachusetts	-	-	-	-	-	4	-	4	-
Worchester, Massachusetts	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-
Adrian, Michigan	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Alpena, Michigan	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	4	-
Ann Arbor, Michigan	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2
Detroit, Michigan	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	1
Homestead, Michigan	-	-	1	3	-	-	-	-	-
Lansing, Michigan	-	4	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Litchfield, Michigan	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	1	-
Northport, Michigan	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	1
Ontonagon, Michigan	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Oshtemo, Michigan	-	8	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Pontiac, Michigan	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Thunder Bay Island, Michigan	-	-	-	2	-	-	-	-	-
Forest City, Minnesota	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-
Koniska, Minnesota	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	-
Litchfield, Minnesota	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Madelia, Minnesota	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Minneapolis, Minnesota	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	2	-
Brookhaven, Mississippi	-	-	-	-	-	4	-	4	2
Enterprise, Mississippi	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Marion, Mississippi	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Athens, Missouri	-	-	-	3	-	-	-	-	-
Canton, Missouri	-	3	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Edinburg, Missouri	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-
Fox Creek, Missouri	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Hematite, Missouri	-	-	-	-	-	-	4	5	2
Oregon, Missouri	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	-
Rolla, Missouri	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
St. Louis - Missouri River	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Wyaconda Prairie, Missouri	-	-	-	5	-	-	-	-	-
Deer Lodge City, Montana Territory	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	5	-
Missoula Mills, Montana Territory	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Bellevue, Nebraska	-	1	-	2	-	-	-	-	-
Blair, Nebraska	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Elkhorn City, Nebraska	-	4	-	-	-	2	-	-	-
Glendale, Nebraska	-	-	-	1	1	1	-	-	-
Nebraska City, Nebraska	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	6	-
St. John, New Brunswick	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Concord, New Hampshire	-	-	-	3	-	-	-	-	-
North Littleton, New Hampshire	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Shelburne, New Hampshire	-	3	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Stratford, New Hampshire	-	1	-	-	1	1	-	1	2
Tamworth, New Hampshire	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	-
Greenwich, New Jersey	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	1	-
New Brunswick, New Jersey	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Newfield, New Jersey	-	-	-	-	-	6	-	8	-
Vineland, New Jersey	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Buffalo, New York	-	3	-	1	-	-	-	3	-
Cooperstown, New York	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Depauville, New York	-	-	-	2	-	-	-	3	-
Fort Ann, New York	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Geneva, New York	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	-	-
Germantown, New York	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-
Gouverneur, New York	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	-
Houseville, New York	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Jamestown, New York	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Leyden, New York	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	4	-
Little Genesee, New York	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Minaville, New York	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	-	-
Moriches, New York	-	1	-	1	-	-	-	4	1
Nichols, New York	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-
North Hammond, New York	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	4	1
Palermo, New York	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	8	1
Rochester, New York	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Schenectady, New York	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Skaneateles, New York	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
South Hartford, New York	-	3	-	-	-	2	-	-	1
South Trenton, New York	-	4	-	-	-	-	-	3	-
Utica, New York	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Wilson, New York	-	3	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Albemarle, North Carolina	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	-	-
Granville, North Carolina	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-
Kenansville, North Carolina	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-
Austinburg, Ohio	-	1	-	2	-	-	-	-	-
Bowling Green, Ohio	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2
Carson, Ohio	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-
Cleveland, Oh.	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	1
East Fairfield, Ohio	-	1	-	2	-	-	-	-	-
Gambier, Ohio	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-
Greenwich Station, Ohio	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-
Jacksonburg, Ohio	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	4	-
Kelley's Island, Ohio	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-
Martin's Ferry, Ohio	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Milnersville, Ohio	-	-	-	8	-	-	-	-	-
New Lisbon, Ohio	-	-	-	4	-	2	-	2	-
North Bass Island, Ohio	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3
North Fairfield, Ohio	-	-	-	-	2	-	-	-	2
Painesville, Ohio	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-
Portsmouth, Ohio	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Salem, Ohio	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	2
Sandusky, Ohio	-	-	-	-	-	3	-	3	-
Urbana, Ohio	-	3	-	2	-	-	-	-	-
Welshfield, Ohio	-	4	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Blooming Grove, Pennsylvania	-	-	-	2	-	-	-	-	-
Brownsville, Pennsylvania	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Canonsburg, Pennsylvania	-	8	-	2	-	2	-	3	1
Carlisle, Pennsylvania	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-
Connellsville, Pennsylvania	-	-	-	3	-	1	-	3	2
Dyberry, Pennsylvania	-	26	-	-	-	1	-	-	-
Egypt, Pennsylvania	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Ephrata, Pennsylvania	-	-	-	2	-	-	-	2	-
Factoryville, Pennsylvania	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Fallsington, Pennsylvania	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-
Fleming, Pennsylvania	-	5	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Fountain Dale, Pennsylvania	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Horsham, Pennsylvania	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	1	-
Murrysville, Pennsylvania	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	-	-
Nazareth, Penn.	-	5	-	2	-	-	-	-	-
Nyces, Pennsylvania	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	5	-
Reading, Pennsylvania	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	1	1
Tioga, Pennsylvania	-	7	-	-	-	1	-	1	1
White Hall, Pennsylvania	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-
Williamsport, Pennsylvania	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	5	-
Bluffton, South Carolina	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Holland's Store, South Carolina	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	-
Chattanooga, Tennessee	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Elizabethton, Tennessee	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	2	1
Austin, Texas	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-
Gilmer, Texas	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-
Oakland, Texas	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-
Brandon, Vermont	-	3	-	-	1	-	-	-	-
Castleton, Vermont	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Craftsbury, Vermont	-	1	-	-	-	3	-	-	-
East Bethel, Vermont	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Lunenburg, Vermont	-	4	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Newport, Vermont	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
North Craftsburg, Vermont	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-
Panton, Vermont	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-
Randolph, Vermont	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-
Rutland, Vermont	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
St. Albans, Vermont	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
West Charlotte, Vermont	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	-
Woodstock, Vermont	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	4	-
Bacon's Castle, Virginia	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Hampton, Virginia	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Johnsontown, Virginia	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	3
Lynchburg, Virginia	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Piedmont, Virginia	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	2
Surry Court House, Virginia	-	-	-	-	-	3	-	-	1
Vienna, Virginia	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Wytheville, Virginia	-	-	-	1	-	2	-	-	2
Zuni Station, Virginia	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Bristol, Wisconsin	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Embarrass, Wisconsin	-	7	-	7	-	1	1	5	-
Fort Madison, Wisconsin	-	-	-	-	-	3	-	-	-
Green Bay, Wisconsin	-	3	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Manitowoc, Wisconsin	-	2	-	2	-	-	-	3	-
Mosinee, Wisconsin	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-
Waupacca, Wisconsin	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-
Weyauwega, Wisconsin	-	4	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

What a fine bunch of material these contributors provide. It is of foremost importance in considering bird migration and the essential dates of occurrence in a period when these particulars were not recorded, and thus are not otherwise available.