BIRDS OF SHORE AND SEA 69 



woods with heavily beating wings between each onslaught, soon disappear- 

 ing into the woods toward Rat Hill and below the level of the tall tree 

 tops. Only then did the falcons give up the pursuit and fly back to the cliff. 



These observers also reported that in the fall for a month beginning on 

 September 21st, from one to three golden eagles were present regularly in 

 the Reser^-e. They were seen mostly in the vicinity of Whalers Knoll, along 

 the western margin of the pines, and over the open ground west of there. 

 They seemed to be occupied mainly with hunting for ground squirrels. 

 One was seen once on the ground among bushes. Some days these birds 

 were heard calling almost continuously. Apparently when the numbers of 

 ground squirrels above ground were reduced at the beginning of the season 

 of hibernation, the eagles moved off the area, at least for most of their 

 activities. 



Duck hawks keep to the seaward sides of Point Lobos and particularly 

 Little Dome and Big Dome. On every occasion that a duck hawk appears 

 over land there is much confusion among the small birds, followed by 

 several minutes of complete silence. 



Owls are also steady predators in this Reserve. 



The birds here discussed are perhaps the most important to Point Lobos 

 Reserve because of their great numbers, their effects upon the flora and 

 fauna of the area, or their high degree of adaptation to the environmental 

 conditions within the Reserve. 



However, many others attract the eye or the ear of visitors with their 

 unusual characteristics or delightfu^ songs. 



Juncos in gray coats and slatey-bl ick hoods; brown towhees; flycatchers; 

 jolly thieving crows ; Steller jays, with handsome crests and deep-blue 

 plumage; thrashers, with their entrancing love songs; the meadow larks 

 caroling sweet notes; finches; thrushes; the plump quails calling "AVho 

 are you? Who are yol^?"; oyster catchers, and turnstones, running . and 

 out with the waves on the sand and rocks, but being very careful that their 

 legs do not get wet — these are but a few of the more obvious birds to be 

 seen and enjoyed by the visitors. 



