Nebraska Ornithologists' Union 75 



44. Falco sparvcrhis Linnaeus — Sparrow Hawk. 



During August and September, 1911, Sparrow Ilaw^ks 

 were quite common at Halsey, and, although I had seen 

 none in June of that year, I supposed that the birds were 

 breeding ones. I found this conclusion to be false the 

 following year, for the hawks were not present in May 

 and did not appear in the region until August 3, although 

 from this time on they were plentiful, both in the river 

 valley and for a short distance back in the hills. Fre- 

 quently they would alight on the crest of a sandhill where 

 they would remain in silent inspection of the country 

 until on a sudden impulse they would rise into the air 

 and circle about in all manner of aerial gyrations to the 

 accompaniment of their rapid "killy-killy-killy— -" On 

 one occasion a beautifully plumaged male settled itself 

 on a post two or three yards away from where I sat under 

 a pine tree and perched there silently, bobbing its head 

 as it surveyed me fearlessly, and when it finally flew away 

 it did so deliberately and without undue haste and re- 

 mained in the immediate vicinity for some little time 

 afterward, not in the least alarmed at my presence. Very 

 probably some of these birds were referable to the Desert 

 Sparrow Hawk. 



45. Pandion haliaefits carolinensis (Gmelin) — Osprey. 



F. M. Chapman includes a fish hawk in his list of the 

 birds seen at Halsey. I did not see the species at any 

 time. 



46. Asia flammens (Pontoppidan) — Short-eared Owl. 



The only record for this owl is one made by R. H. Wol- 

 cott in July, 1911. 



47. Otus asio (Linnaeus) — Screech Owl. 



Several Screech Owls haunted the underbrush along the 

 river and at the base of the hills whence their quavering 

 call was heard nightly. Occasionally when exploring the 

 thickets I would flush these little gray birds — none of the 

 red phase were apparent — but usually their unmistakable 

 voice was the only clue to their whereabouts. Tliey are 

 undoubtedly residents and probably breeders here. 



48. Speotvto cunicularia hypogaea (Bonaparte) — Burrowing 



Owl. 



