Page:Condor21(1).djvu/26

 Jan., 1919 NESTING OF SHORT-EARED OWL 25 close either young or old birds, nor did the nest look as if it had been. occupied for several days. It seemed almost certain that the old birds had carried off the young, perhaps on account of my weekly visits, probably to a new hunting ground. The only thing I am sure about, however, is that the young birds did not fly themselves, as their wings could not have been leathered enough, nor had they the strength. This nest was on what was practically an island formed by the sloughs so that no passerby could have been within several hundred yards of it. In summing up briefly the knowledge gained by my visits to this owl's nur- sery, certain items stand out prominently. These are the small sets laid, appar- Fig. 9. SECOND NEI/T FOUND. YOUNG THREE WEEK// OLD, Photo by J. H. Bowles. ently, by the owls on this side of the mountains, the open sites selected for nest- ing, and the fact of the parent birds catching and feeding small birds to their young. I hate to accuse them of this, but the truth must come out. Another vcry striking thing was the manner of flight of the parent birds at times after the young were hatched. They would fly to a height of perhaps a quarter of a mile overhead and then sail about on motionless wings, precisely like a Butco. A. casual observer would rover have suspected for a moment that they were owls. Altogether, while no specimens were added to the collection, a most interesting und of information was gathered for our note books. Tacoma, Washington, August 3, 1918.