EASTERN GOLDFINCH 451 



within an area of approximately 19 acres. The nests averaged 50.0 

 inches above the gound, with extremes of 81 and 32 inches. Of 

 these nests, 21 were destroyed (with either eggs or young), and 



3 nests were never completed. In addition, one female incubated 

 five eggs for a minimum of 25 days (but less than 30 days) and another 

 female incubated five eggs for a minimum of 25 days (but less than 

 32 days) before deserting the nest. Forty nests fledged from one 

 young (1 nest) to six young (1 nest). Berger's data indicate a 

 nestling period averaging 13 to 15 days, but he has recorded periods 

 of 16 and 17 days. Berger writes of finding a nest at Ann Arbor, 

 Mich., on the early date of June 11, 1947. On examination "it was 

 discovered that this nest was a double-storied structure and con- 

 tained three cowbird eggs in the lower story." 



Lawrence H. Walkinshaw (1938) speaks of nest building in Michi- 

 gan, where the bird used the outer parts of dead branches of hawthorn, 

 milkweed, and chickery. "These were stripped off in short pieces 

 by the female, then carried to the nest. This bark fiber together with 

 the soft downy parts of the milkweed and thistle seeds with a few 

 finer grasses constituted the bulk of the nest. The rim was usually 

 circled with a narrow band of strong fibers which helped apparently 

 in holding the nest together when wet and when the young became 

 older. The lining usually consisted of cottony materials entirely 

 and these nests probably withstand the elements better than those 

 of any of our smaller birds." Later (1939) he stated: "It required 



4 or 5 days to buUd a nest, and a period, averaging at six nests, a 

 little over two days followed before the first egg was laid." He 

 says (1938) that the period of rest may last as long as 27 days. G. 

 M. Sutton (MS.) points out that the pair shows so little interest 

 in the nest during this resting period that a casual observer might 

 well consider the nest abandoned. 



Alfred O. Gross (1938) tells of the building of a nest he found in 

 Maine, "lodged in a three-pronged fork of one of the slender, upright 

 branches near the top of the birches. The birds were not coming 

 frequently with nesting material. The female was the architect 

 but the male invariably accompanied her, serving as guard and offer- 

 ing moral support and encouragement with his song. Sometimes 

 the male brought nesting material but this was usually presented 

 to his mate who packed it firmly into the growing walls of the structure. 

 The work was not rushed but was done very deliberately. As the 

 nest neared completion, visits were made only during the early morn- 

 ing and again in the hour or two preceding sunset. It was an easy 

 task to record their visits since their arrival was always announced 

 by their loud, cheerful notes, especially those of the male. On some 

 of the visits during the latter stages of construction, no nesting 



646-737— 68— pt. 1 31 



