NATURE NOTES FROM ACADIA

American Eider. - On February 10 in the immediate vicinity of the bell buoy which rings rising and falling on the sea just off Otter Cliffs, it was the good fortune of Mr. Vernon Lunt and I to see a great flock of American Eiders. These birds, among the largest of the northern sea-fowl which winter off the Maine coast, described a great living are on the surface of the deep blue water. Looking them over with a telescope I estimated there must be approximately 5000 birds in the flock. The clean white upperparts and the black under-plumage of the male birds contrasted with the plain brown of the females presented a gala spectacle, for few birds are more handsome than those big male eiders. Here, off Otter Cliffs, I have seen them time and again in the winter, but never in such numbers. In all probability they come to the ledges here and elsewhere to feed on mussels - a food which these birds appear to hold in great favor.

Eiders are to be found in great flocks in the vicinity of Schoodic Peninsula, and here the fishermen call them "sea-ducks" and "ducks and drakes." I am told they are to be found as far out at sea as the fishermen venture with their little craft.

-A. S.

The Snow Moon. - With snow falling on at least 12 of the 31 days, January was indoed the "Snow Moon" - a name applied to the month by some of our American Indians. Following four consecutive days of thawing weather the mountains were practically clear of all snow and ice on January 9, but thereafter the month was very cold with temperatures dropping close to zero or below on 14 of the 31 days. Late in the month the coves and smaller harbors froze over and acres of "pancake ice" formed in the bay. Goldeneyes and buffleheads congregated in the open waters off Bar Harbor in abnormal numbers, and a flock of 15 scaup ducks put in their first appearance of the winter. Flocks of herring gulls invaded the island towns, a lighting in the streets if food of any kind was to be had.

-A. S.

Donation. - Mounted specimens of the Canadian Spruce Grouse and Greater Yellowlegs were recently donated to Acadia National Park's natural history collection by Mr. and Mrs. George F. Berry of Bar Harbor. In former years the Spruce Grouse was a resident on Mount Desert Island, but since the latter part of the past century its occurrence here has been accidental. The Yellowlegs is to be expected as a regular migrant. We are very grateful for this donation.

-A. S.