NORTH AMERICAN MAESH BIRDS 



sound. Soon the birds began to rise, standing on their nests, facing the wind 

 and waving their black, vermilion-lined wings. As we came a little nearer, in 

 stately fashion the birds began to move; uniformly, like a great body of troops, 

 they stepped slowly forward, pinions waving and trumpets sounding, and then, 

 when we were still 150 yards away, the leaders sprang into the air. File after 

 file of the winged host followed. The very earth seemed to erupt birds, as flam- 

 ing masses streamed heavenward. It was an appalling sight. 



Referring to the nesting ground and nests in this colony, Doctor 

 Chapman (1905) says: 



The nesting ground selected by this colony of flamingos was an extension of 

 that occupied by probably the same colony of birds in 1901. In that year the 

 nests were placed among large red mangrove bushes where but few could be seen 

 at one time. The area occupied in 1904 is more open in character, the only 

 conspicuous vegetation being coarse grasses, buttonwood shoots, and one good- 

 sized buttonwood bush. It is evident that in selecting a nesting site the birds 

 are governed not by the nature of the vegetation, but by the height of the water. 

 Since nesting material is not carried btit is used where it is found, the birds must 

 build where the ground is sufficiently muddy to be readily worked. 



The main colony occupied an area of approximately 3,450 square 

 yards, with an average of about 50 nests to each 100 square yards, 

 or two square yards to a nest; but often the nests were built so close 

 together that they touched each other. 



As to the composition of the nests he (1905) says: 



The material of which the nest is composed depends, as one might suppose, 

 upon the nature of the spot in which it is built. The nests of 1902, placed on 

 the marl bar, were composed wholly of marl; but under other conditions leaves, 

 roots, and twigs may enter into the composition of the nest to a greater or less 

 extent, and I saw several nests in which sticks played as prominent a part as 

 mud. While I did not see flamingos actually building their nests, I saw them 

 adding to nests in which the egg had already been laid. Standing with a foot 

 on each side of the nest mud was dragged up the side of the nest with the bill 

 and pressed into position with both bill and feet. Doubtless the method was 

 similar to that employed in building a new nest. 



The measurements of six nests, selected to show the range of vari- 

 ation in size, varied in height from 5 to 13 inches, in diameter at the 

 base from 18 to 23 inches and in diameter at the top from 12 to 14 

 inches. The height of the nest is evidently varied to suit the water 

 conditions and after frequent heavy rains the lower nests are often 

 washed out. 



Flamingos, when not too much disturbed, generally return to the 

 same breeding grounds year after year. That they are much attached 

 to and not easily frightened away from their nests is shown by 

 the interesting group activities described by Doctor Chapman (1908) 

 and by the ease with which he so successfully concealed himself in 

 his blind in the very heart of the rookery, where he took such a won- 

 derful series of photographs. When he first entered the rookery " the 

 birds, after flying only a short distance to the windward, turned 

 abruptly and with set wings sailed over him, a rushing, fiery cloud, 



