24 Illinois /State Laboratory of Natural History. 



rained fresh e^o-s.* I find that the precise time of nest- 

 buildino- along the Illinois River depends upon the water 

 level, the bird beino; seriously delayed some seasons. The 

 lew cavities that are not submer2:ed are quicloy taken, 

 and birds not so fortunate are compelled to wait for the 

 receding; water, unless, perchance, they steal a site from 

 another pair. 



A typical nesting site is in the cavity of an old water- 

 soaked stump, either standing in or projecting over the 

 water. Occasionally stumps containing nests are found 

 on comparatively dry land, but in these instances the 

 nests were probably built at high water, which, upon re- 

 ceding, left the stumps high and dry. The stump selected 

 is generally a short, smooth one, rotten, and so water- 

 soaked that it can easily be torn asunder with the fingers. 

 The heights of the cavities vary from a few inches to 

 twenty-five feet or more, the extremes being exceedingly 

 rare. In fact, nests more than ten feet above the water 

 must be considered exceptional. The onW reasonable 

 conjecture I can offer for the high positions, is that they 

 are due to the receding water. A low position is preferred 

 by the birds, but if one is chosen, a sudden inundation 

 often causes the destruction of the nest. I have frequently 

 found submerged or partly submerged nests, with the dis- 

 tressed parent birds flying around. The birds seem in- 

 different as to the condition, depth, or shape of the cavitj'". 

 Every conceivable kind of a hole or crevice to be found 

 in stumps, stubs, or snags, from a rent in the side of a 

 stump to a deserted woodpecker's hole, is acceptable. 

 Generally, however, the selection is a cavity once oc- 

 cupied by a chickadee or small woodpecker, but now 

 long forgotten by its previous owner, and open to any 

 tenant ^^hancing along. 



In the construction of the nest, the female bird works 

 alone. I have never yet seen a male really aiding in this 

 task. He frequently accompanies his mate on trips after 

 building material, hunting here and there for choice pieces 



♦Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Ciub. Vol. III. (1S78). p. VA 



