Page:Bird-lore Vol 05.djvu/160

 A North Dakota Slough 147

scanty affairs, merely a few straws on little grassy tussocks, often arched over above, but barely concealing the eggs from View. The Soras' nests were more substantially made of dead reeds, but were generally plainh visible. A little farther out. where the grass was a little taller and the water deeper, we began to ﬁnd the nests of the Red-winged Blackbirds,— characteristic nests of the species, but often containing eggs of the Cow- bird. and, in one case, two eggs of this proliﬁc parasite.

But by far the most abundant birds in the slough were the Yellow» headed Blackbirds, the characteristic bird of every North Dakota slough;

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they fairly swarmed everywhere. and the constant din of their voices became almost tiresome. The old male birds are strikingly handsome with their bright yellow heads and jet black plumage, offset by the pure white patches in their wings, the duller colors of the females and young males making a pleasing variety. The commonest notes, the song most constantly heard, suggests the syllables “Oka wee wee," the ﬁrst a guttural croak, and the last two notes loud, clear whistles, falling off in tone and pitch, the whole song being given with a decided emphasis and swing. They also have a low guttural "Kruk," and sometimes give the last two notes only of the ﬁrst song.

They seem to feel most at home in the tall, thick reeds, clinging readily to the smooth, upright stems, mounting to the slender, swaying tops to