CHARACTERISTIC OF THE FEMALE 



287 



Early in the season, comparatively slight disturbances often result in desertion of a nest. 

 On a number of occasions, birds have been flushed from nests before a single egg had been 

 laid, and, in a few cases, have deserted, apparently as a result of the one contact. The same 

 thing has also occurred with respect to partially complete clutches. But desertion is, in gen- 

 eral, infrequent and the great majority of birds persist in their nesting attempt unless the 

 clutch is actually destroyed.* 



Prior to the beginning of incubation, nesting females flush more easily and at a greater dis- 

 tance from the observer than later, ahhough there is a tendency for birds which have been 

 repeatedly disturbed to be wilder than other- in the same stage of the breeding cycle. As 

 the incubation period progresses, she sits increasingly close until, toward the end, one may 

 practically step on her before she will flush. 



A number of instances have come to our attention where birds have remained on their 

 nests in spite of logging operations immediately about them. In other cases, road crews, work- 





GROUSE WHICH CONTINUED TO SIT ON NEST IN SPITE OF WOOD-CUTTING OPERATION DIRECTLY 



BESIDE IT 



ing within a few feet, have failed to disturb sitting grouse. Perhaps the greatest determina- 

 tion was shown by a bird in Orange County which continued to sit during a forest fire and even 

 allowed a spray of water to be played over her. Similar experiences are reported from 



* See diBcusBion under Desertion, p. 290. 



