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THE OTTAWA riATURALIST. 



Vol. XVII. OTTAWA, MAY, 1903. No. 2. 



THE NESTING OF BIRDS AT THE CENTRAL EXPERI- 

 MENTAL FARM, OTTAWA. 



W. T. Macoun. 



The following- notes on the nesting of birds at the Central 

 Experimental Farm are not published with the object of encour- 

 aging bird nesting at the Farm, for this is prohibited, but to show 

 how many species of birds have been attracted there because they 

 are protected and have found suitable nesting places. This article 

 was written to supplement the report of the Ornithological Branch, 

 which will also be found in this number of The Naturalist. 



As the trees and shrubs at the Experimental Farm increase 

 in size in the forest belts and on the ornamental grounds there is 

 an increasing number of species of birds which breed there. In 

 addition to that p irt of the Farm which is under cultivation there 

 is a small area where the natural timber still remains, and a marsh 

 and swamp with tamarac and willows and a few other trees. 

 These places attract quite a number of birds which would not be 

 found if all the Farm were under cultivation. The following ob- 

 servations have been made at the Farm during the past sixteen 

 years, but particular attention was paid to the species breeding 

 there during 1902. 



Of the water and shore birds there are several which breed in 

 the swamp and marsh near the canal. Although a nest of the 

 American bittern has not been actually found to our knowledge, 

 these birds are frequently seen in the marsh during the breeding 

 season and undoubtedly breed there. A nest of the least bittern 

 with eggs in it was found by Dr. F. A. Saunders in the summer 

 of 1902 in the marsh. A nest of the spra or Carolina rail was 



