Chapter I: Front Matter

THE SUNNY SOUTH OÖLOGIST.

Vol. 1, No. 2. Gainesville, Texas, April, 1886. Published Monthly.
50 Cents per Year.

Notes from Southern California.

We have been having a bountiful share of rain in this neighborhood of late; and while we have been having warm drenching rains in the low lands, there has been a steady fall of snow in the mountains. As a result of the latter fact large numbers of Cedarbirds, Robins, Catbirds, etc., have left their usual haunts (the mountains), and taken refuge in our warm orange groves and vineyards. And now a person cannot walk a mile through the suburbs of the town, without noticing several large flocks of these birds feeding contentedly by the roadside, or industriously probing among decayed limbs, or under dead leaves for bugs and larvæ, upon which they delight to feed. These birds however do not breed in this locality, but as soon as the warm weather sets in, they betake themselves to the remote valleys and fastnesses, situated among the almost inaccessible ranges of the Sierra Madre. Here all are protected from the ravages of that “fell egg-destroyer,” the school-boy. They breed and rear their young in peace, and we see no more of them until the next “cold spell” sets in and causes them to again visit us, or properly speaking, “our warm climate,” until the clemency of the weather will again permit them to return to their accustomed haunts. Further north however these birds can be found among the woods and forests the whole year ’round.

At this season of the year we are not alone favored with visits of the land birds, but the aquatic element is very abundantly and variously represented among our ponds and streams; in fact, out of a bag of twenty or thirty ducks, which a hunter may be so fortunate as to secure as a reward for a day’s sport, he can generally single out from twelve to fifteen different species, from the majestic old Mallard or “Greenhead,” to the diminutive Butterball or “Silkduck.” Quite a number of these ducks remain with us during the breeding season; in fact I have personally obtained “sets” of eggs of the Cinnamon Teal, Baldpate, Mallard, Ruddy Duck, Godwall, Redhead, Pintail and Greenwinged Teal; besides I have heard several authentic accounts of “sets” of some other species of ducks being secured by other Oologists in different portions of this county. The principal or most profitable grounds on which to successfully search for nests of various species of ducks and other waterfowl is amongst the immense “tule lands” and sloughs of a marsh called “Gospel Swamp.” This is a place about sixty miles from Los Angeles, and occupying many square miles of country, including the bogs, willow swamps, tidelands, etc. It is a veritable paradise for ducks of all species; and during the sporting season I have spent some very pleasant and well repaid time, by trudging around its extremities, armed with a good ten-bore “breech-loader,” with an evil intent upon the unsuspecting ducks and geese. Not withstanding the thousands and thousands of birds annually slaughtered in these swamps by the professional “pot” or market hunters, as well as the havoc wrought by amateur sportsmen, still the number of the birds never decrease to a perceptible extent; but, like the “Hydra,” where you kill one to-day, you will find two to-morrow. Along towards spring the birds begin to assemble together in vast flocks of countless thousands, and depart for unknown latitudes in the “far north.” Their time of departure seems to be invariably during the night; in fact I have often noticed large numbers of ducks assembling at the same given lake or pond. This congregating would perhaps occupy a lapse of several days, the numbers apparently augmented by large additions each succeeding night. At length, after a vast number has congregated, you will notice a great deal of excitement among the large flocks; a seeming dissatisfaction and restlessness, evinced by loud calls and continual fluttering, splashing, etc. After all these signs of busy life, if you visit the lake the next morning you will probably find it lonely and deserted, without a vestige of yesterday’s tumult and life, save a few lonely, sick looking Teals, who were too weak or tired perhaps to join the flight of their fellows the preceding night. But they may wait for the next flight which at once begins to form, with new additions each succeeding night, and in a few days we have an exact repetition of the assemblage and flight of a few days previous. The assembling of these birds is usually at some large lake convenient for their purpose, and the additions in the shape of small straggling flocks, are very probably detachments of ducks which have left the small ponds and streams, where they have passed the winter in detached flocks, and as if by some previously concerted plan assemble here so as to take their departure _en masse_ for the possible view of both company and protection.

A. M. Shields,

Los Angeles, Cal.

North American Birds.

I will hereafter give in this column each month, as near as possible, the breeding places, and the time of nesting of the Birds of North America; beginning this month with the family Turdidae.

1. Wood Thrush—Hylocichla Mustelina—Nests usually found in low, damp woods. Dates of nesting, from May 10th to June 15th.

2. Wilson’s Thrush—Hylocichla fuscesceus—The situation of the nest is retired, and often in the depths of woods. Begins nesting about May 20th.

3. Gray-cheeked Thrush—Hylocichla aliciae—Low, damp woods and thickets. Begins nesting about May 1st.

4. Russet-backed Thrush—Hylocichla ustulata—Pacific coast regions abundant. Begins nesting about May 15th.

4a. Olive-backed Thrush—Hylocichla ustulata swainsoni—Dry, scrubby woods. Begins nesting about June 1st.

5. Dwarf Thrush—Hylocichla unalascae—Thick woods and swamps. Begins nesting early in May.

5b. Hermit Thrush—Hylocichla unalascae pallasi—Low, swampy places. Begins nesting June 1st.

7. American Robin—Merula Migratoria—Nests made near habitations. Nests from May 1st to July 25th.

7a. Western Robin—Merula Migratoria propinqua—Nesting habits similar to that of No. 7.

9. Varied Robin—Hesperocichla naevia—Inhabits all woodland. Begins nesting about May 10th.

10. Sage Thrasher—Oreoscoptes montanus—Inhabits open, mountainous countries. Begins nesting May 15th.

11. Mocking Bird—Mimus polyglottus—Nests placed in open country, orchards, vineyards, etc. Always near man. Begins nesting April 20th.

12. Catbird—Galeoscoptes carolinensis—In gardens or clearings of woods, always near habitations. Nests May 15th to July 1st.

13. Brown Thrasher—Harporhynchus rufus—In blackberry tangle or thickets, high or low land. May 10th to June 20th.

13a. Mexican Brown Thrasher—Harporhynchus rufus longirostris—Nesting places similar to foregoing species. Nests April 15th to June 15th.

14. Saint Lucas Thrasher—Harporhynchus cinereus xantus—Uplands and high plains, in cactus and other bushes. Begins nesting about May 1st.

14a. Bendire’s Thrasher—Harporhynchus cinereus bendirei—Uplands and high plains. Begins nesting April 1st.

15. Curve-billed Thrasher—Harporhynchus curvirostris—Inhabits thick woods. Nest from May 1st to June 15th.

15a. Palmer’s Thrasher—Harporhynchus curvirostris palmeri—Desert regions of Arizona. Begins nesting about the 10th of May.

16. California Thrasher—Harporhynchus redivivus—Coast region of California, in a clump of bushes, or dense chaparral. Begins nesting early in February.

16a. Leconte’s Thrasher—Harporhynchus redivivus lecontei—Frequents open countries. Begins nesting early in April.

17. Rufus-Vented Thrasher—Harporhynchus crissalis—Common in chapparral thickets, and well shaded undergrowths. Begins nesting early in April.

(_Continued._)

Egg Collecting in Colorado.

On a pleasant morning in the early part of May last, (May 2, 1885) our collector put his gun, collecting-box, etc., into the buckboard, and started for a point 16 miles below Greeley, on the Platte. The destination was a long island midway in the Platte while on either side was the rushing, dirty river. This island was noted among the boys of the neighborhood as a great resort for crows, owls, herons and other large birds during the breeding season; but, owing to the river being high in the spring of the year few have ever cared to reach the island for such “trifles as bird’s-eggs.” ’Twas too early for herons’ eggs, too late for owl’s, but just the time for crows. The latter we were after, and crows’ eggs we determined to have. The sight of a few nests in the trees on the island, and several crows flapping about, worked our desires to the highest pitch. Stripping and holding all necessary articles to take crow’s eggs with in one hand, we partly waded and swam across the wild and dirty stream to the crow-den shores. In a short space of time I took 11 sets of 6 eggs, and 3 of 5 each from nests from 12 to 20 feet from the ground, all eggs were perfectly fresh. Once I thought I had a set of Raven’s eggs (280), as they were larger than the average crow’s, and my aid shot a female raven as she left the nest. It must have been a mistake however on _her_ part and I have since given up the idea.

I flushed an American Long-Eared owl (395) off of an old crow’s nest about 8 feet from the ground, and obtained a handsome set of 6 eggs. It was so late in the season for owl’s eggs that I was afraid they would hatch out before I could get them to the ground. On blowing them I was much surprised to find them all perfectly fresh. Has any one ever taken a fresh set of 395 as late as this?

Also took one set of B. B. magpies (286) 5 eggs, incubation well advanced; nest 6 feet from the ground. We saw several herons busily fixing up their old nests in the high tops of a large cottonwood, but we never get fresh heron’s eggs until the last of May.

Fred M. Dille,

Greeley, Colorado.

Nesting of Brown-headed Nuthatch.

(SITTA PUSSILLA)

All the accounts I have seen in books say the brown-headed nuthatch builds no nest, but lays her eggs in the bottom of a hollow in the tree on the decayed wood. Now, I have never found one that did not make an attempt to build a nest. I have found several, ranging from two to forty feet from the ground, and in every case a nest was built, composed of fibrous roots, pieces of hanging moss, hair and feathers mixed together. The nests were built in a hollow in a decayed tree, from one foot to three feet deep. The nest is very loosely put together, and it is impossible to remove it without cutting the cavity open to the bottom of the nest. A gentleman in California, who is well versed in Ornithology and Oology, who I wrote to in regard to it, says his knowledge and experience has been in almost every case, that a nest is attempted by this bird—the description of a nest taken by him in Orange county, Fla., some years ago is—the nest was composed of pieces of fibrous, decayed wood, small scales of pine bark, wings of pine seeds, and a little woolly vegetable material arranged in cup form.

G. Noble,

Savannah, Georgia.

A Bird’s Sagacity.

For the Sunny South Oologist:

The following little narrative occurred at my old home in Kentucky, some years ago: I had placed over the roof of my house a bird box, and for several years the martins had occupied it, and I think the same pair came back every year, for the male appeared larger and had a coarser voice (?) than any others I had ever heard.

This spring of which I speak, the blue birds had taken possession of the box, and one morning while out for a little fresh air I heard the welcomed voice of the martin in the distance. I turned to see from where the voice came, and saw the old friend coming alone. He came directly to the bird box, and appeared very much surprised to find it occupied, so at once began an attack upon the inmates, but the little birds were too much for the old martin, and he had to give up to them. (But this was only for a short time.) So he flew to a neighboring roof, and sat there for a time as if meditating what to do, and then flew in a direct line toward the south from whence he had come. The little blue birds seemed to congratulate themselves upon their victory, but they were too soon, for the next morning at about the same time, I heard the voice which seemed to say “pitch in, pitch in,” and I knew he was coming. Upon looking I saw him in the lead with about a dozen other martins following. I waited to see his purpose, and was not long in finding it out, for he flew direct to the bird box, and perching himself on the top gave the orders, “Pitch in! pitch in!” and they did pitch in from both sides.

* * * * * * * *

It is needless to say how it terminated, for the old martin and his mate raised a brood that year, and came year after year until I came west.