Page:Condor19(4).djvu/20

 134 THE CONDOR Vol. XIX nests were examined in a large patch of dead tules, the eggs at this time being in a well advanced stage of incubation. This species also nests in the tall grass and thick beds of leaves at the foot of numerous clumps of willows growing in the shallow or higher parts of the marsh. In one of these willows a Mallard had lined a deserted crow's nest with down, and was incubating six eggs. Querquedula cyanoptera. Cinnamon Teal. This is the most common of the ducks breeding at the Paulina Marsh. They nest almost exclusively in the large areas of bent- over tules. The nests are usually composed of dry tnles lined with dark down, and placed on a platform of dead broken-over reeds, well concealed from the sides and from above. These birds evince strong parasitic tendencies, as many eggs were found in nests of the next-named species. Marila americana. Redhead. Another common duck at the marshes. On June 1 they were paired off, and two or three nests were noted in the heavy rules; but their nesting season was evidently not at its height. Branta canadensis canadensis. Canada Goose. A common bird in the spring along the Columbia River and on Millers Island at the mouth of the Deschutes where they are accused of doing considerable damage to young alfalfa. In the fall they are abundant on the high bench land above the Columbia River, where they frequent the grain fields and afford splendid shooting. lJntil recently these geese nested on Millers Island. Two partly floating nests were found June 21, 1913, in the Paulina Marsh. These were large structures composed of dead rushes, with a scant lining Of broken bits of rules and down. Goslings, half grown, were also noted at this time. Botaurus lentiginosus. Bittern. Noted only at Paulina Marsh. Ardea herodias herodias. Great Blue Heron. In August this species is common on the gravel bars at the mouth of the Deschutes River. It was noted at Maupin on the Deschutes in April, 1915. Nycticorax nycticorax naevius. Black-crowned Night Heron. A large colony nest- ed in the clumps of willows in Panlina Marsh. The nesting season was well advanced by June 1, but a few nests still contained fresh eggs, while some held young birds a third grown. Grus mexicana. Sandhill Crane. I did not meet this species at the marsh, but it breeds five miles to the south, in the vicinity of Silver Lake. Porzana carolina. Sofa. One bird was observed May 29, 1913, in a marshy place on the Deschutes River south of La Pine in southern Crook County. A specimen was taken by Mr. Jewerr at the mouth of the Deschutes on April 17, 1915. Fullca americana. Coot. A common bird in the marshes of northern Lake County. Steganopus tricolor. Wilson Phalarope. This beautiful bird is common at the Paulina Marsh and around the irrigation ditches and hay fields in the vicinity of Silver Lake. A nest collected June 30, 1913, at the town of Silver Lake, was situated in the tall grass near the bank of an irrigation ditch. It was composed 6f dry grasses, and con- tained four heavily incubated eggs. Recurvirostra americana. Avocet. A single example was observed June 3 at the north end of Paulina Marsh. Gallinago delicata. Wilson Snipe. Noted in April, 1915, at the mouth of the Des- chutes, and at Maupin in Wasco County. Pelidna alpina sakhalina. Red-backed Sandpiper. One was taken at Silver Lake on June 4, 1913. Tetanus melanoleucus. Greater Yellowlegs. Noted April 17, 1915, at Millers on the south bank of the Columbia River. Catoptrophorus semipalmatus inornatus. Western Willet. A single bird was seen at the Paulina Marsh. Actiris macularius. Spotted Sandpiper. Noted on the bank of the Columbia at the mouth of the Deschutes, and in the vicinity of irrigation ditches at Redmond, Crook County. Oxyechus vociferus. Killdeer. The most common and widely distributed shore- bird of this region. Noted at nearly all the streams and small marshes between the Columbia River and Silver Lake except the timbered areas. Oreortyx plota plcta. Mountain Quail. An adult bird with a band of young was noted in the hills three miles west of The Dalles on June 20, 1913. A specimen was taken by Jewett on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, in May, 1915.