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colder weather threatening flocks of Mallards were travelling South nearly all day. Flocks of Mallards were observed in many places feeding in rice stubble and in fields where rice was still in the shocks. The greater part of the damage to the rice crops had been done before December 10 and the birds seen seemed to be feeding largely on waste grain save in a few localities where they were still attacking shocked rice. Many of the birds were being killed by hunters. 

DAMAGE BY BLACKBIRDS.

Rice growers in the region under discussion almost universally made complaint of damage by blackbirds in their fields. The species of ^[[Ic]]teridae implicated as nearly as could be made out were the Red-winged Blackbird, Cowbird, Bronzed Grackle and Rusty Blackbird. Complaint against these birds began in spring at the time of seeding. Rice is planted mainly by seeders that distribute the grain while drags follow to cover it up. In some cases where it was necessary for some reason to leave part of the grain uncovered for a few hours, blackbirds came in great flocks and cleaned up almost the entire quantity of seed that had been planted. In was stated also that Redwings sometimes inflicted serious damage by pulling and eating the newly sprouted rice. Seeding took place from the end of March or the first of April on into the first week in May. Migrant blackbirds of all the species mentioned above ^[[should pass]] in great flocks through this region until April 10 or 15. After this time any damage must be attributed in large part to the Redwings with perhaps some aid from Bronzed Grackles as these two species in the group under consideration are the most common as breeding birds. Cowbirds also occur during the nesting season in fair numbers