358 Bird - Lore 



back from the nesting-grounds in the north, one or two Oyster-catchers and 

 two Turnstones were seen while we were on Cobb's and Wreck Islands. 



On July 31, we visited Smith's Island, situated about fifteen miles south 

 of Cobb's Island. Here we also made the acquaintance of Captain Hitchins, 

 of the Life-Saving Station situated there. At his suggestion, we were taken 

 in a launch to Little Isaac's Island, two miles to the south, where we found 

 Skimmers in an undisturbed condition. To be conservative, I should say 

 that there were seven or eight hundred here, and also two hundred Common 

 Terns. One Oyster-catcher was noted by Mr. Harper, and two Black Terns 

 by the writer. On our way to Smith's Island, in the morning, we had noted 

 one or two Gull-billed Terns. On the Isaac's- — or Little Isaac's, as it is some- 

 times called — we found a Skimmer's nest containing four eggs; evidence that 

 these birds had been left entirely to themselves. 



REPORT OF P. B. PHILIPP ON BIRD ISLAND, 

 ORANGE LAKE, FLORIDA, 1911 



Bird Island, recently purchased by the National Association of Audubon 

 Societies, is the breeding home of probably the largest colony of Herons left 

 in Florida. It is situated in the southeastern part of the lake, a mile from the 

 mainland, and close to the Atlantic Coast Line Railway at Orange Lake 

 Station. Located as it is in one of the most thickly settled parts of the state, 

 it ofifers a far better chance for suitable protection than most of the breeding 

 colonies in Florida. 



Bird Island*covers about thirty-six acres, nine of which are, in an ordinary 

 season, dry and grown up with a dense central growth of willow trees and 

 bushes, with an outer growth of low elder. The remainder of the island is a 

 wet marsh, covered with a heavy growth of rank grass and edged with lilies. 

 Close to the main island are two similar smaller ones — Saw Grass Island 

 of twenty-five acres, and Red Bird of five acres. Scattered about in the Lake, 

 which here is very marshy, with many patches of lilies and rushes, are 

 several large nameless 'tussocks,' or grassy, floating islands, all rich in bird 

 life. 



Our party camped on the shores of the lake, from May 4 to May 12, and 

 the entire time was given to an investigation of the conditions on the islands 

 and immediate neighboring territory, the results of which may be briefly 

 summarized as follows: 



On Bird Island, the subjoined species were found breeding, the numbers 

 given being, for the most part, based on actual inhabited nests found and 

 counted : 



White Ibis. — This species forms the major part of the bird population of 

 the island. They were nesting all over the island in the willow bushes, wherever 

 the sticks were large enough to support a nest. Based on a count of nests in 



